Consultation on SEND Sufficiency Strategy for 2026-2031 is still open - and an update on specialist SEND provision in Gloucestershire

SEND sufficiency is having enough of the right types of support and school places available locally to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Ensuring:

• Enough places – making sure there are sufficient school and specialist places so children don’t have to travel far or wait a long time.
• The right type of support – including mainstream support, specialist bases, and special schools.
• Meeting needs early – providing help as soon as possible to prevent needs escalating.
• Planning for the future – using data to predict rising demand and create new provision in advance.
• Reducing reliance on distant placements – so more children can be educated closer to home.

In Gloucestershire, SEND sufficiency is addressed through a SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026-31, which is currently in draft form and undergoing a period of public consultation.  The Strategy identifies gaps in current provision, forecasts future demand, and sets out plans to expand provision across mainstream and specialist settings. This includes building new special schools and increasing support within mainstream schools through inclusion bases.

Overall, SEND sufficiency is about ensuring that every child can access the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Current picture of provision in Gloucestershire

Demand is rising, with over 7,800 children and young people now having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and increasing numbers of assessments and plans each year. More pupils are also being placed in independent schools, showing pressure on local provision.

National picture

National reforms aim to strengthen inclusion in mainstream schools, provide earlier support, and ensure specialist provision is available when needed.  The Education Estates Strategy 2026 requires inclusive, flexible school environments and inclusion bases in all secondary schools, with an equivalent number in primary schools.

What is being done in Gloucestershire to improve SEND provision

Key developments include two new special schools opening in Gloucester (Gloucester Academy for Inspirational Learning - GAIL) and in Cheltenham. Both schools will provide a total of 400 new specialist places locally, helping reduce the need for children to travel out of county.

The Cheltenham (Arle Road) special school:

We will feature an update on the new The Cheltenham (Arle Road) special school in a future edition of this newsletter.  The school now has a confirmed provider – Enable Trust, who will run the school. Please take part in the consultation organised by Enable Trust on the proposed name (Cheltside Academy) for the school, which is closing on Friday, 5 June.

GAIL update:

What the school will provide

• Up to 200 places for children aged 4–16 with moderate and additional learning difficulties (MALD).
• This includes support for children with Autism, Speech, language and communication needs and Learning differences. All pupils will have an EHCP.
• Reach South Trust will run the school and a headteacher (Kelly‑Leigh Kulyk) has now been appointed and is working with families and professionals to shape the school ahead of opening.

Current status:

• The school is currently under construction in Gloucester (Wheatridge East, Abbeydale).
• In April 2026, it reached a major milestone (“topping out”), meaning the main structure of the building is now complete and work is moving onto the next phase.

Next milestone:

• Construction continues to progress, with internal work and outdoor areas now being developed.

Opening timeline:

• GAIL is on track to open in January 2027, with a phased start (gradually taking pupils over time).

Mainstream SEND provision update to follow in a coming edition of the Families in Partnership newsletter, but ...

... there is still time to have your say - Gloucestershire SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2031 for public consultation

Gloucestershire County Council is developing its new SEND Sufficiency Strategy for 2026-2031 and wants to hear from families with SEND, young people, and the wider community. This strategy will inform how the council plans the right educational places and specialist provision for children and young people with SEND over the next five years, making sure support is responsive to local needs.

The strategy builds on previous and ongoing work to improve sufficiency in the county. Its aim is to help children and young people with SEND to thrive, to be confident, and to achieve their ambitions.

A public consultation on the draft strategy has been prepared as part of the Council’s decision-making process. Your voice matters and by sharing your lived experiences, ideas and hopes for the future, you can help shape how specialist educational provision in Gloucestershire will look in the years ahead.

How you can take part

The consultation opened on Tuesday, 5 May 2026 and will run for seven weeks, closing on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at 5.00pm.

You will be able to read the draft SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026-31 and share your views through an online survey. To have your say, please click here to access the consultation.

Alternatively, a paper copy or an accessible format can be provided upon request by emailing sctsufficiency@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

For more information on sharing feedback, please visit the  'Have your Say' page on  Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND .

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