TREETOPS school in Grays is set to gain 110 extra places as demand for SEND provision across Thurrock continues to grow.

Treetops Free School, on Buxton Lane, is in line for a major expansion as Thurrock Council looks to increase the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities who can be educated within the borough.

Around 200 children are currently seeking places at the school, which had capacity for 320 pupils as of last year.

During Thursday's (22 October) children's services scrutiny meeting, Cllr Peggy Davies asked whether new buildings at Treetops formed part of plans to increase SEND capacity.

David May, head of finance business partnering for children's services and the Dedicated Schools Grant, confirmed 110 additional places were planned at Treetops and would be introduced in phases.

He said: "There was an increase of the local offer and, in special schools, 110 places is going into Treetops, so that will be a phased implementation."

Mr May said the school had already admitted between 10 and 20 additional children this year, although the wider expansion depends on planning permission and completion of the new building.

Plans include a 12-classroom extension, with £7.6million in funding already approved through Department for Education grants.

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About 51 additional places are expected to be provided in one academic year, followed by another 50 the next.

Figures presented to councillors show Thurrock expects to provide 904 specialist places in 2026/27, including 573 in specialist schools.

The overall number of specialist places is expected to rise to 1,014 by 2028/29, with the Treetops expansion accounting for much of that increase.

That compares with 587 commissioned specialist places across the borough in 2018/19.

Mr May said increasing provision locally would allow more children with SEND to attend school in Thurrock rather than having to travel outside the borough for their education.

Beacon Hill Academy, Osborne Trust and Olive AP also work with schools across Thurrock to help them include and support children with additional needs.