Barnsley Council's Cabinet will consider plans to create 40 specialist primary school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at a meeting on Wednesday 7 October.
The proposal would refurbish and adapt The Mill, an existing council-owned building in Worsbrough Bridge. The scheme forms part of the council's strategy to provide more specialist places locally so children and young people can access the support they need closer to home.
Funding and investment
The council accepted £9.4 million from the Government in February 2026 to create and improve local SEND and alternative provision in Barnsley. The £7.37 million investment earmarked for The Mill would pay for refurbishment and adaptation of the site, alongside essential works including a new roof and accessibility improvements.
The funding comes through the Government's ring-fenced High Needs Provision Capital Allocation Grant, which must be used to create or improve specialist education places for children and young people with SEND.
Partnership and timeline
Waterton Academy Trust has been selected as the council's preferred partner to run the new specialist primary school, following a selection process. The trust already operates specialist education provision locally.
If approved, children are expected to start learning at The Mill from September 2028.
Councillor Gary Hall, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children's Services, said: "We want every child and young person in Barnsley to have the right support, in the right place, at the right time. These proposals would help us create more specialist primary school places locally, so more children with SEND can learn closer to home. The Mill would make good use of an existing council-owned site and help us provide more specialist education places here in Barnsley, reducing the need for children to travel outside the borough for their education."
The full Cabinet report is available on the Barnsley Council website.
