Over-capacity school seeks £2.4m extension

The SEND department of Hampton Dene Primary School is 50% overprescribed, the council said

A school in Hereford is set to be expanded in a £2.4m project so it can welcome more special education needs and disabilities (SEND) students.

If plans are approved, Hampton Dene Primary School in the east of the city will house two new classrooms, along with support spaces such as toilets, staff and learning resource spaces.

It will allow the school's SEND department, which is already 50% overprescribed, to welcome another 16 additional students.

Plans have been submitted by Herefordshire Council on behalf of the school, and the local authority will itself consider the application at a later date.

Papers show the school's detached language and communication centre (LCC) will be expanded with a new single-storey extension and two sensory gardens.

The LCC already caters for children with speech, language and communication needs and autistic spectrum disorders, but council documents show it is already over capacity.

The body said it was investing the money to meet a rise in SEND pupils which is "expected to continue into the future".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.