A SCHOOL in Furness catering for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was over capacity the last academic year, new figures show.

Sandside Lodge School, on Springfield Road in Ulverston, is one of three special education schools in the Westmorland and Furness area.

It was over capacity in the 2022-23 school year as it had 84 children on its roll despite officially having 80 places, according to data from the Department for Education.

The figures further show nearly a quarter of state secondary schools across England were full or overcrowded, largely unchanged from a year before.

In Westmorland and Furness, five out of 20 schools were at or above capacity.

Meanwhile 17 per cent of primary schools across the country were facing the same issue – with 21 of them in Westmorland and Furness.

A Sandside Lodge spokesman said: "All children attending Sandside School are appropriately accommodated and receive a good quality of education.

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"We recognise that there is an increasing demand for specialist places and are working closely with Westmorland and Furness Council to ensure that there are sufficient places for those children for whom a special school place is necessary to support their education."

The council said it was required to keep their education placements, including those for children and young people who may require specialist support, under review. 

Following an 'in-depth review' the authority is developing an Education Sufficiency Strategy. It is working with all stakeholders to ensure that children with SEND continue to access appropriate provision, the council said. 

A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said: "We are currently developing a strategy which will set out its strategic priorities, to ensure the sufficiency of quality provision, in relation to all phases of education including early years, primary, secondary, post-16 and SEND provision.

"Once finalised, this strategy will be the subject of consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. It will form part of a plan where our aim is that all those who are school age/need to have a place at a school with SEND provision in the area will have a place."