A new free school will be built in Darlington to ensure children with special educational needs and disabilities can get the help that they need earlier.

The local authority’s bid for the new facility was approved by the Government and will support pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Up to 48 full time places will be provided for pupils aged 11-19 with autism, and will see them benefit from a specific environment tailored to their needs with dedicated staff.

It comes as the Department for Education (DfE) published its long-awaited improvement plan to provide high-quality, early support to children across England in a bid to end the postcode lottery.

Parents of disabled children have previously given up their jobs due to a lack of support, it has been reported.

The new-build school will operate as a multi-agency hub to develop a centre of excellence, the council said, using funding from the Government’s Free School Programme.

Councillor Jon Clarke, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people said: “There is a growing need for specialist places in the town and having a purpose built new special school will mean more families will be able to access the right support nearer to where they live and continue their education within their local community.”

Work will now begin to identify an appropriate sponsor to run the school. A final decision on the successful sponsor will rest with the Secretary of State for Education.

Read next: 

Darlington’s MP, Peter Gibson added: “It is a huge investment, bringing a much-needed additional specialist resource to our town and will relieve the pressure on our existing SEND provision in Darlington and I look forward to hearing who will be successful in running the new school.”

But campaigners and leaders in the education sector warned that the Government’s plan “falls short” of the urgent reforms needed.

The DfE has said it will make sure the process for assessing children’s needs through Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which help pupils to access support in school, is digital-first, quicker and simpler wherever possible.