The Department for Education has confirmed that a Special Educational Needs (SEND) School on Portland will go ahead after South Dorset MP Richard Drax expressed concerns.

Dorset Council is working with the Department for Education (DfE) on the new school, set to open at Osprey Quay on Portland.

It was originally expected to open in September 2023 with the aim to provide up to 75 places for young people aged 14-19 years with special educational needs or disabilities.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Drax voiced concerns that the special school would be shelved. 

He said: “Now there is to be no sign of it until September next year, we are all nervous that somehow it may disappear.”

Mr Drax said he was seeking reassurance on behalf of his parents in Weymouth and Portland who have 'voiced frustration with the whole SEND system.

A spokesman for the Department for Education confirmed to the Echo that the school is still going ahead but there is no date set for its opening yet.

“The Special Free School project, at Portland, in Dorset, is still progressing. The date for its opening is not set but we are working to minimise the amount of time that any new school project spends in pre-opening.”

Mr Drax was speaking after a statement by Education Minister Claire Coutinho on progress to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or in alternative provision in England.

A £2.6 billion capital programme for special and alternative provision places by 2025, £400m in additional funding from the recent Autumn statement and 33 new schools with 49 more planned was announced by the education minister.

Mr Drax said Miss Coutinho's statement: “Will provide some reassurance to many of my constituents who have voiced their frustration with the whole SEND system. Dorset Council does its best, but problems have been identified in diagnosis prior to SEND support, particularly for those with autism.”

Miss Coutinho said: “Parents had lost trust in the system” and “were battling to access specialist education, health or care services, including mental health services.”

She added that she would be 'delighted' to meet Drax “about his local specialist school.”

Dorset Council was unavailable for comment.