Cabinet approves £1.6m investment to expand SEND provision at Broad Oak Primary School
St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet has today (Wednesday 17 December) approved a £1.6 million investment to extend Broad Oak Primary School in Parr, creating a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resource base.
Article date: 17 December 2025
The development - funded by the Department for Education - will provide four new classrooms, enabling 20 additional places for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This forms part of the council's commitment to inclusive education, ensuring every child has the best start in life while reducing reliance on costly out-of-borough placements.
Demand for specialist provision in St Helens has grown significantly in recent years, particularly for pupils with ASD and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. While the borough offers a strong continuum of support—from mainstream schools to designated special schools—the expansion of special school places has outpaced growth in mainstream settings.
Welcoming the report, Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "By creating more specialist places right here in St Helens Borough, we're giving families the reassurance that their children can thrive close to home in schools that know and care for them. This investment isn't just about bricks and mortar—it's about inclusion, opportunity, and delivering outstanding value compared to costly out-of-borough placements."
Commenting on how much of a difference the expansion will make at Broad Oak Primary School, Headteacher, Melanie Hignett, said:
"This is an exciting opportunity that will not only increase much‑needed specialist SEN provision within St Helens but also further enhance our facilities for our Broad Oak Family.
"As an inclusive school, we are looking forward to welcoming new children and staff into our Broad Oak Family through this development. We are committed to creating a nurturing and ambitious environment where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive."
The new provision is expected to be completed by September 2027, delivering high-quality, local placements that offer better value for money compared to expensive independent alternatives, helping to protect local council tax resources.