Consultation on the proposal to add additional school places at White Ash Special School

Monday 11 May until 11.59pm on Friday 26 June 2026

Lancashire County Council is proposing to increase the number of places at White Ash School Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 4QG.

White Ash School is a community special school in Oswaldtwistle, in the district of Hyndburn, serving children from 2 to 11 years. The local authority has commissioned 115 places during 2025 to 2026. Following discussions with the Governors and Headteacher, White Ash School has been selected to deliver an additional 40 commissioned school places. Lancashire Council is now asking for your views on this proposal as part of the statutory process which is required before alterations of this kind are made to maintained schools.

This is a formal consultation about making a prescribed alteration to a school in accordance with The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

Background to the proposal

Lancashire Council has a duty to keep its special education provision under review and ensure there is the right type of provision and enough places to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The council have developed a SEND Capital Strategy which aims to increase the availability of specialist places.

Lancashire’s SEND Partnership has published The Local Area SEND Strategy and the Lancashire SEND sufficiency needs assessment and capital plan includes the most recent SEND sufficiency analysis.

Changes being proposed

The council is proposing to carry out the following change to White Ash Special School:

  • permanently increase the number of places the school can offer to pupils, from 115 to 155 from September 2027;
  • expand the accommodation on the school site and improve the facilities available to allow for additional pupil numbers at the school.

Reasons for the proposal

There is significant need for more school places in Lancashire for children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), both in special schools and SEND Units in mainstream schools. Lancashire Council is proposing the above prescribed changes, in line with our Local Area SEND Strategy to ensure children who need a specialist setting can access it as close to home as possible.

White Ash school is providing 115 commissioned pupil places in 2025 to 2026. It provides support for pupils with autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulty and profound and multiple learning difficulties. All pupils attending the school have an Education, Health and Care Plan. White Ash School is rated as an outstanding school by Ofsted (September 2024).

Why White Ash School has been chosen

White Ash School:

  • meets the required need for additional places, without causing concern of overprovision
  • has an outstanding Ofsted ranking
  • is able to provide suitable accommodation on its existing site and within planning constraints.
  • the Local Authority has confidence in the leadership capacity of the school to be able to increase pupil numbers.

Effect on pupils

Pupils will notice some changes but those are likely to be limited. The increase in pupil numbers  will be phased so that it rises over a period of time. School places will be commissioned by the council in line with the SEN Code of Practice. All necessary adaptations to the building will be carried out as part of the planned expansion. With the additional numbers, the school might decide to organise the school differently to ensure educational continuity for pupils. It is expected that the capital investment will enhance the facilities available to all pupils attending the school.

Effect on staff

It is not expected that there will be a significant impact on staff. However, the investment proposed in the school’s facilities is likely to improve the working environment and support staff to better meet the needs of children. Additional pupils will also require increased staffing and so a greater range of posts may be created over time.

Changes to the school building or site

The proposed increase in places means we will have to do some building work at White Ash School. The council owns the school site where expansion is planned to accommodate additional numbers at the school.

Building works will include new purpose-built teaching and learning spaces, facilities for staff and improved access and parking for vehicles.

Have your say

We welcome your views on this proposal. The consultation information on this page should be read together with: Lancashire SEND sufficiency needs assessment and capital plan

  • The consultation is open for seven weeks
  • Starts: Monday 11 May 2026
  • Closes: 11.59pm on Friday 26 June 2026

Complete the online consultation

There will be an in-person meeting for staff of the school on Wednesday 20 May for school staff and Governors.

There will also be a meeting for parent carers of current pupils, this will take place online using Teams on Tuesday 2 June.

For wider stakeholders there will be online information sessions hosted by the council on:

  • Wednesday 3 June from midday to 1.30pm   
  • Tuesday 16 June from midday to 1.30pm

A summary of consultation responses will be published on the council’s website. Personal details will not be made public.

For queries about the consultation, or to request information in alternative formats, please email inclusion.east@lancashire.gov.uk.

What happens next

After the consultation closes, we will carefully consider all the feedback to inform and develop our proposals. A final decision will be made by the council's Cabinet.

If the project is approved by Cabinet planning approval will be requested for any building works which will give further opportunities for you to share any views on the development of the site.

Subject to approval and building work, White Ash School could begin to increase commissioned pupil numbers from September 2027.