THE next step in developing a new school for young people aged 16 to 19 with special educational needs and disabilities has been approved.

Herefordshire Council's cabinet and opposition leaders were fully supportive of the plans to open a new school at the former Broadlands Primary School site in Prospect Walk.

Jonathan Lester, cabinet member for young people and children's wellbeing, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity to extend our provision for children aged 16 to 19 with special educational needs."

The council's application to a government national pilot project to develop free special school provision has been progressed to the next stage.

Further progress requires approval from cabinet and agreement to the use of a suitable site.

Cllr Lester said: "If we could get the funding it would be a really exciting development for Herefordshire. It demonstrates how Herefordshire Council is being proactive to get resources it needs for young people."

The council report said that Herefordshire needs to commission a special free school for 50 young people aged 16 to 19 who have severe and complex learning disabilities including autism.

The report said: "Current provision is already overcrowded, unsuitable and in poor condition and there are no further opportunities for expansion other than a new school.

"In line with other local authorities Herefordshire has seen an increase in numbers of young people with the most severe and complex learning disabilities and the forecasting suggests that this will increase by a further 30 places over the next 10 years.

"The new special school would absorb some of those who are currently placed where there is all through provision and capacity to organise and deliver suitable curriculum and learning opportunity for the age group is limited. Combining the places in the unsuitable and overcrowded provision with the expected growth (i.e. 20 and 30) will enhance the efficiency of the delivery arrangements for this age group."

The cabinet meeting was told that current provision is provided at Westfield School in Leominster and Barrs Court Special School and College in Hereford.

Broadlands Primary School moved from its old site to a specially designed facility on the Aylestone Business and Enterprise College site in September 2015.

The council report said: "The primary school buildings were very poor quality and expensive to repair, maintain and run. The primary school was therefore relocated to a remodelled school building on a neighbouring high school site in September 2015. The original and now redundant primary site is currently ‘mothballed’ and set to be demolished.

"The site identified would be available with immediate effect should a LA commissioned free school be granted and a successful proposal received."