A NEW special school for children with additional social, emotional and mental health needs will be opened in Bradford.

Bradford Council has secured funding for a new school for 72 young people, aged ten to 19, and the plan is for it to be built on the Rhodesway Playing Fields in Lower Grange.

However, a sponsor for the proposed free school will need to be found before it opens, as Government policy prevents local councils from opening new schools.

The Council says the new facility will offer “holistic, whole life services” based around education, family care and work-life support, and there will also be an on-site, 12 bed residential facility.

The Council first put a bid for funding to the education and skills funding agency last year, and worked with major partners in the district and with neighbouring councils in the submission.

An exact amount of funding for the school has not yet been set, but a condition of the funding will see the Council advertise to appoint a new sponsor to run the school, in line with Government policy that all new schools are academies or free schools.

A planning application for the new facility will also have to be submitted.

Details of the new Bradford school come as part of a Government announcement of 19 new SEND schools across the country.

Schools System Minister Lord Nash said: “This process will give local authorities the chance to identify expert organisations with proven track records in SEND provision to run special schools that will help hundreds of children fulfil their potential.”

The Bradford school is part of a push by the Council to create hundreds more places for pupils with conditions such as autism in the coming years.

The Council has previously proposed two new SEND free schools, as well as creating about 360 places at schools with a specialist provision across the district.

The current situation has recently been described as “bursting at the seams.”

Michael Jameson, strategic director of children’s services, said: “Getting this funding from central Government has involved a lot of work and planning from a number of partners. It’s good news for the district that we are able to expand provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.”

Coun Imran Khan, portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said: “We welcome this investment in Bradford. We need more school spaces for our children and young people, especially children who have special educational needs and disabilities.

"This will help us to meet the need for more SEND places across our district.”