At least one in 10 proposed special and alternative provision free schools put into limbo by the government now looks set to be built, as councils decide whether to shelve the projects or expand existing provision. But two councils where special free school projects were scrapped altogether are appealing against the government鈥檚 鈥渄amaging鈥 decision. Ministers announced in December that they were scrapping 28 mainstream and 18 special free school projects. For 59 more proposed specialist settings, councils have a choice between proceeding as planned or taking a three-year, 拢50,000-per-pupil cash alternative to create new places in existing schools. This is on top of their share of for 50,000 new specialist school places announced last month. So far seven of the 59 special and AP school projects look set to continue. The remaining councils are considering their options ahead of the deadline this month. Norfolk鈥檚 education lead Penny Carpenter said she was 鈥渟trongly minded鈥 to move ahead with two schools and turn down 拢13 million in alternative funding. School ‘supports highest needs pupils’ These schools, expected to cost 拢40 million, will 鈥渟upport children with the highest needs and reduce the time they have to travel to school鈥, Carpenter said. Bristol intends to go ahead with its 164-place school for youngsters with social emotional and mental health needs and severe learning difficulties, run by the Enable Trust and approved in March 2023. It warned in council papers how 鈥渄elays in delivery have a significant impact鈥 on the number of children waiting to access 鈥渟uitable鈥 provision. The DfE said alternative funding could be used by councils in a 鈥渕ore flexible way鈥, for example by creating the same number of places in SEND units and resourced provision, expanding existing schools or adapting mainstream settings. ‘Desperately short of capacity’ But Worcestershire is set to turn down the 拢5.7 million alternative funding and proceed with a planned new special school. Stephen Foster, the council鈥檚 education lead, said it was expanding mainstream 鈥渨herever possible鈥. 鈥淲hat we are desperately short of is SEND school capacity,鈥 he added. Special school delays undermine deficit reduction efforts Adam Johnson, strategic director of children鈥檚 services, told a council meeting that it may be September 2029 before the school, run by Macintrye Academies, can open. A decision will be made next month. Salford will go ahead with a 150-place primary school for children with autism, communication and interaction and speech and learning difficulties. The alternative 拢7.45 million could have been used to build specialist provision at 10 existing schools. But council officers said these would be 鈥渧ery different鈥 to the existing enhanced provisions in 20 of Salford鈥檚 schools. 鈥淭he pupils鈥 high level of need would mean that the pupils would not be able to integrate in the mainstream school, and the provisions would need to be totally self-contained,鈥 the council said. 鈥淚t is acknowledged that opening a new school using the DfE process can be a long process, but this project was well advanced at the time of the pause.鈥 The school is now due to open in December 2028. Funding ‘not like-for-like’ Darlington officers are recommending that councillors approve a 48-place special school for 11 to 19-year-olds with autism. They said the proposed 拢2.3 million alternative funding 鈥渄oes not like-for-like match our estimates of the capital investment鈥 for the school. They said the average cost of a new special school development in 2023 was 拢96,806 per place, so 鈥淸the alternative funding] appears unaffordable based on current information鈥. Out of 20 alternative provision schools, one looks set to be approved so far: Nottingham 鈥渋ntends to proceed鈥 with Bowden Academy. Other councils are still working out if the alternative funding is a better option. Councils set to appeal decisions Cambridgeshire said it will consider 鈥渋f there is a more cost-effective and timely way to use the offered funding settlement to provide these much-needed school places within the county鈥. The DfE scrapped 18 special school projects in December and handed councils direct funding for expansions. The projects had been approved in May 2024, but no trusts had been appointed. Buckinghamshire council plans to submit a detailed business case to 鈥渞estate the case鈥 for a 152-place SEMH school. Education lead Carl Jackson said it would write to education secretary Bridget Phillipson to 鈥渁sk her to reconsider the damaging plans鈥. Westmorland and Furness also said it 鈥渨ill be appealing the decision and considering options available鈥. It established 51 resource provision places in mainstream schools in September, but its most northern special school is an hour’s journey from the site of the cancelled school. The DfE said the 拢3 billion will ensure every child 鈥渘o matter their background, can achieve and thrive close to home鈥.