Kirklees Council’s drive to improve provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) continues to move forward apace.
The council has secured Government approval to open a new school for 125 pupils aged from eight to 16.
The school is known as an ‘Alternative Provision Free School’ and would be created in partnership with the Delta Academies Trust.
Alternative Provision often refers to education for those who are unable to attend a mainstream or special school and are not educated at home. This could be for a range of reasons, including behavioural or health issues.
School places are funded by the Department for Education and represent a big saving on independent provision. The council says the average cost saving is around £12,000 per place.
In December 2025 the Department for Education gave the council a choice between setting up a new school with Delta or accepting £5.8 million over three years to buy in places elsewhere.
A deadline for a decision was set for the end of February 2026 and the council’s Cabinet will be asked to agree the creation of the new school at its meeting on Tuesday February 10.
It’s not known where the new school will be located but the council says it’s likely to be within a “suitable existing building within Kirklees.”
The proposed school would aim to provide a high quality alternative to the mainstream curriculum helping young people who have previously struggled to thrive.
Clr Jane Rylah, the council’s Cabinet member for education, said: “Our plans for the Alternative Provision Free School will make support even stronger for those with additional needs.
“Some pupils find learning more difficult than others, so they require extra support to overcome those challenges. We want to ensure there are enough of the right places for our learners.
“We already have a strong relationship with Delta Academies Trust, who deliver a high standard of alternative provision in safe, secure and inclusive environments.
“This funding enables us to create more places and locate them within Kirklees. It delivers value for money and allows our pupils to be educated closer to home.”
Clr Viv Kendrick, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Alternative provision usually supports learners on a relatively short-term basis, with the aim that they will be integrated back into mainstream education.
“It removes barriers and provides vital support for children, young people and their families. Our plans to create the new school are another example of the council being ambitious for every learner, no matter what their circumstances may be.”
Andy Barnett, chief executive officer of Delta Academies Trust, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with Kirklees Council to help support some of the most vulnerable children in the borough, providing opportunities for these students to re-engage successfully with education.
“It is a privilege to be part of this project, which will help shape Kirklees children’s lives, giving them a strong educational offer that helps them thrive and achieve and be successful in their next destinations.”
Kirklees Council is already making a multi-million investment to rebuild, expand and relocate two Huddersfield special schools, Joseph Norton Academy at Deighton and Woodley School and College in Almondbury.
