Purpose

The Education & Learning Capital Programme for 2026/27 sets out how we will invest c.£5m million in the borough’s education estate - using a mix of education capital grants, primarily from High Needs Place Capital Allocation and Basic Needs Allocation grants, including residual unspent funds from prior years.

The programme prioritises the developments identified in the recent SEND Reform Plan’s Sufficiency section and seeks to instigate projects to meet the rising demand for Specialist Base placements in Bracknell Forest and proposes three core projects to begin delivery in the 2026/27 financial year.

In addition to the creation of specialist places in mainstream schools, the programme also seeks to formalise resource bases in the borough within existing schools. By investing in mainstream adaptations, informal provisions established by existing schools will provide an environment to deliver targeted support to young people and support the emerging Experts at Hand service in the borough.

Finally, the capital programme seeks to secure adaptations to the CDC to provide a hub space for delivery of Experts at Hand alongside the successful offer currently being managed in this space.

In securing the capacity identified, Bracknell Forest Council will be able to meet the commitments laid out in the SEND reform plan and better meet the needs of young learners in the community.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Cabinet APPROVES:

·       The implementation of the 2026/27 Education Capital Programme and the use of     £6.764m of available Education Capital Grant funding to deliver SEND projects across identified school sites, in line with the SEND Reform Plan and the projects listed under item 6.2 below and in Appendix A.

·       The sale of the College Hall site is put on hold pending a detailed           review of the potential use of the site for permanent SEND purposes, noting that this will require use of £0.5m of available grant to replace the expected capital receipt in support of the Hawthorne Academy site development which is currently underway.

Reasons for the decision

The proposed projects will provide access to specialist support tailored to individual needs, while ensuring that children and young people remain connected to mainstream education wherever appropriate, enabling a more inclusive and equitable offer across the borough. Failure to proceed would significantly undermine our ability to meet agreed objectives.

This strategic capital investment will increase local sufficiency, decrease out-of-area placements, and secure improved educational outcomes for children and young people with SEND.  Utilising surplus space in maintained schools is a key priority identified in the SEND White Paper.

Alternative options considered

Failure to approve the programme would mean continued reliance on high-cost independent and specialist placements. It would also hinder the council's ability to meet the objectives of the SEND reform plan and embed inclusion opportunities throughout the mainstream school estate.