Bracknell Forest Council has said it has done everything it can to ensure the delivery of a new special educational needs (SEN) school, after it has faced delays.

A school for 100 students with autism was set to open in Buckler’s Park in late 2026, but this has been delayed to March 2027.

Bracknell Forest Council has emphasised that the project is being delivered by the government through the authority’s participation in its ‘safety valve’ scheme.

This nationwide scheme involves an agreement between local authorities and the Department of Education over SEN provision.

For Bracknell, funding for two new SEN schools have been secured, the building of which will be overseen by the Department of Education.

Grainne Siggins from Bracknell Forest Council has now told the News: “The council carried out the necessary processes to secure an academy trust to take on the running of the school.

“However, this is a Department of Education led project, we are reliant on the Department of Education to deliver the design and construction of the school.”

The executive director for people added that it was a ‘complex process’ which ‘understandably takes time and statutory approvals’.

Progress made so far has included the appointment of the Propeller Trust academy chain to run the school.

A 25-place specialist facility opened in Sandhurst at the beginning of the academic year, and another 25-place facility is set to open at Edgebarrow school next September.

The hold up was revealed in a recent School’s Forum held by Bracknell Forest Council, which included council officers, teachers and union representatives.

Mr Siggins said: “The new autism spectrum condition school in Bracknell Forest is one of a number of facilities across the country that the Department of Education will be delivering.”

Head of SEN at Bracknell Forest Council Duane Chappell said that the authority ‘can’t build schools as quick as we need to’ amid the delay.

But school representatives said that they were ‘pleased’ with the progress being made, which included integrating SEN children into more mainstream schools.

Mrs Chappell said: “We will also be challenging schools when I think a child’s need can be met, and we don’t want to be in a position where we’re directing schools, but ultimately we have to work together.”

There will be nearly 200 new places in the next few years in ‘quite a small borough’, the head of SEN claimed.

As well as this, nearly half of children with an education and health care plan will have their specialist education provided.

The Department for Education has been approached for comment.