PLANS to build a special needs school in Winnersh for 150 children are expected to take a big step forward this month.

Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive looks set to approve plans to lease land at Winnersh Farm to the Department of Education for 125 years.

If planning permission is granted, the school, which is expected to open in September 2022, will be built and funded by the Department for Education and run by the The Maiden Erlegh Trust.

Controversial plans to build hundreds of homes next to the school also remain on track.

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Speaking at a meeting on September 17, councillor Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highway said the land had been earmarked for 250 homes but that number will be “adjusted downwards”.

The Tory councillor added: “It is anticipated that a detailed planning application for the proposed SEND school will be submitted in January 2021.

“A separate outline planning application for housing on the remaining council-owned land is likely to be submitted early in 2021.”

The site in Winnersh is “the most suitable site for the school” and the project will provide much-needed special needs school places, according to a council report.

The report adds: “The school will be a special free school, for 150 pupils (all ages), for children with autism and social emotional and mental health difficulties.

“It is anticipated that half the places will be used by Wokingham children and young people. The other half being used by children and young people from Reading borough.

“Having the special free school in Wokingham provides for a number of benefits to the borough, not least the positive impact on children, young people and their families in relation to having access to additional in-borough provision.”

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The report also says that some special needs children in Wokingham currently have to travel “large distances” to get to school.

This has a “considerable” impact on the children and the council has to cover the expensive travel costs, says the report.

Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services, said: “A new SEND School in the borough would bring huge benefits for young people and their families.

“Reducing the need to travel long distances out of borough each day, allowing children to benefit from the wider school experience and a high quality education as well as reduce pressure on families who have to work their lives around a much longer school day.

“There would also be wider financial benefits for Wokingham which could see a saving of between £1.5 and £2.2m a year when compared to the cost of providing more expensive out of area places.”