Have your say on £14.7m project to improve SEND education provision in Warrington

The council has launched an online consultation on plans to improve SEND education provision in Warrington, including increasing SEND school places and opening a new education and adult social care facility.

The consultation is asking residents for their views on significant changes to Fox Wood and Green Lane schools to increase SEND school places, as well as moving the Woolston Sixth Form College to create a new education and adult social care provision for young people aged 16+ with SEND.

These changes will provide an increase minimum of 100 special school places across Warrington, helping to meet the rising demand for local SEND education places and reduce the need for young people to be placed outside of the area.

The capital investment into the Peace Centre building, currently home to the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation, was approved by the council’s cabinet on Monday 7 April, with works due to start in June.

New education and adult social care facility

Plans include refurbishing and extending the Peace Centre building, currently home to the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation, to become a modern SEND hub.

The facility will provide a sixth form for young people aged 16+ with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which is currently based at Woolston Learning Village.

In addition to the education facilities, the centre will also include Post-19 education and adult social care. The project aims to provide more support to people with SEND as they prepare for adulthood, to help them live independently, gain paid employment and be as healthy as possible.

The plans for the building have been developed to include classrooms, multi-purpose spaces, ancillary spaces and a ground floor extension. External facilities will also include an all-weather walking track, horticultural learning area, playground, car parking and enlarged pick-up/drop-off spaces.

Increasing special school places in Warrington

The proposed significant changes involve expanding Fox Wood Special School and restructuring Green Lane Community Special School.

Fox Wood will formally operate two satellite sites: Fox Cubs at Sandy Lane and a new post-16 provision at the Peace Centre building, which will increase the capacity to 252 places for pupils aged 4–19.

Green Lane will change its age range to 4–16, with post-16 provision and staff transferring to Fox Wood in September 2025. As a result, Woolston Sixth Form College pupils will also become part of Fox Wood in preparation for the move to the Peace Centre building, scheduled for September 2026.

Residents and stakeholders are being urged to share their views in the online consultation, which is open from Monday 28 April to Monday 26 May.

You can also find out more about the significant changes being proposed at Fox Wood and Green Lane Special Maintained Schools on the Statutory Notice. To request the consultation in a different format, please email schoolorganisation@warrington.gov.uk.

Cllr Jean Flaherty, cabinet member for children, families and education said: “This project is looking to ensure that young people with SEND and their families receive the care and support they need to thrive, both now and in the future, and we would encourage everyone to have their say on the plans.”