'Huge amount of work is needed'

Special schools in Lancashire were overcrowded in the last academic year, figures show.

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Last month the Department for Education announced 10,000 new school places will be funded for children with special educational needs.

It comes after the Government set aside £740m in December to increase places for SEND pupils.

New DfE figures show there were 3,643 send pupils on roll in Lancashire in the 2023-24 school year, but only 3,350 places in special schools - meaning schools were overcrowded.

Meanwhile, there was a gap of 6,574 places in special schools across England, with 160,036 Send pupils on roll last year, but only 153,462 places available.