An additional 228 places are to be made available for children in Dorset with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) following the approval of the second phase of Dorset Council’s multi-million pound investment plan.

Approved by a recent cabinet meeting, the plan prioritises the programme of projects at existing special schools and the setting up of inclusion hubs at mainstream schools.

The hubs will deliver more than 100 places over the next five years.

Cllr Andrew Parry, portfolio holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said: “We have developed these ambitious plans to create more specialist provision and we want all our children and young people to have the best possible chance to learn in a setting that is suited to their needs.

“Currently some children and young people with SEND must travel a great distance for educational provision, sometimes far from home. This is because there’s not enough specialist provision available in Dorset.

“We aim to build on the capabilities of our mainstream schools to support more children and young people with SEND, which will ensure more children can receive their education locally.”