Northumberland is set to gain a new special school as part of a Government free schools initiative to boost places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Government says every region in the country will benefit from at least one new school, which include 37 special free schools and two alternative provision free schools.
This will create around 3,500 additional school places, boosting choice for parents and providing specialist support and education for pupils with complex needs such as autism, severe learning difficulties or mental health conditions, and those who may have been or are at risk of being excluded from mainstream schools.
In the North East, the support will be for children with social, emotional and mental health needs which can't currently be met by mainstream schools.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: "Parents rightly want choice of where their child goes to school and to know that the education and support they receive will ignite that spark of potential that exists in all of us, so they can go on and succeed.
"We want every school to be a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities. That’s why we are investing significant funding into Special Education Needs units attached to mainstream schools and in additional support so children with education, health and care plans can access mainstream education.
"But we recognise some children require more specialist support. These new special free schools and alternative provision schools will make sure that more complex needs can be provided to help support every child to have a quality education."
The region will gain three new schools in total - the others being in Hartlepool and Tees Valley - providing a total of around 200 new places.
In Northumberland, the news is likely to be welcomed: the county has seen a a 32% increase in the number of pupils its eight maintained special schools between 2013 and 2017, with councillors forced in April last year to pledge 80 new places at existing schools.
Applications will now open across the region to find providers - including community groups, teachers, charities, existing education providers and other organisations - that will run the schools.
Responding to the Government announcement, Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, said: "These additional school places will enable children with special needs and those facing difficulties to have access to high quality education provision.
"Over the past week, there has been much debate in the media about children and young people whose social, emotional and behavioural needs make them vulnerable. Today’s announcement of a range of specialist provision in every region of the country is hugely welcome."
