A NEW special school could be provided in the Keighley area.

The proposal comes after a study showed that school places for an extra 360 young people with special educational needs would have to be found across Bradford district by 2018.

The rising number of children diagnosed with physical, mental and emotional conditions will likely require at least two new special schools to be built in the district in the next few years.

Bradford School Forum was told of the urgent need for more specialist provision by Judith Kirk, the assistant director of children’s services at Bradford Council.

And the forum, made up of teachers, heads and other education representatives, was told this would have to be done in the face of limited budgets.

The rising numbers of pupils with special educational needs is down to both Bradford district's rising population, as well as better and faster diagnosis of conditions.

The meeting heard that of children diagnosed with special educational needs, 24 per cent in the district were autistic, compared to 11 per cent nationally.mAnd 12 per cent had a physical disability, compared to four per cent nationally.

However, Bradford had a much lower proportion of children with severe language and communication needs at six per cent, compared to 21 per cent nationally.

The forum was told that one reason for this was the quick diagnosis of young people with autism locally.

Mrs Kirk’s presentation to the forum said that in the short term, 68 new places needed to be funded.

In the medium term, the council would have to create more places in mainstream schools for pupils with special educational needs, and in the long term “at least” two new special schools would have to be created.

Mrs Kirk added: “There is a real urgency to get a new strategy in place, and there will be a great need for more places by 2018.”

It was suggested the two new special schools would be spread out, with one in the Bradford South area and another possibly in the Keighley area, although detailed plans are “ongoing”.

Dominic Wall, forum chairman, said: “Pressure on places in Bradford district has been building up, and it has now become critical.”