PUPILS with special needs in Oxfordshire are set to benefit from a £2.5m cash injection.

Oxfordshire County Council has announced the Government will grant it £2,454,466 to ensure there are enough school places for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It will gain the funding in three equal lump sums between now and 2020, as part of a £215m government grant announced last year, called the Special Provision Fund.

The council is planning to split the cash to expand capacity at two of the county’s special schools - Bardwell School in Bicester, and John Watson School in Wheatley.

It has launched a consultation about that proposal, and commenters have until Thursday, February 22 to respond.

In a statement accompanying the consultation, the council said it has set up a high needs review steering group to assess provision in Oxfordshire for learners with SEND.

It added: “This group includes representatives from the county’s special and mainstream schools, and is one key mechanism through which education providers are being consulted.

“Through working with the steering group, as well as directly with schools, a draft plan for how this funding will be invested has been developed.”

To view details and contribute to the consultation, visit consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk and scroll to ‘Special Education Provision Capital Fund’.

The final plan will is scheduled to be published on March 14.