West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today welcomed news that a new school will be opened up in Malvern to support children with special educational needs.

Harriett first called for a new autism free school in 2017 after meeting with teachers at Dyson Perrins Academy and hearing plans for a dedicated school to help local pupils with extra support requirements.

The new school will offer extra places for children with autism and other related conditions significantly reducing the number of council-funded car journeys to schools across the county.

The MP has also met with local parents to hear of the challenges of finding spaces at appropriate educational settings and has shared her concerns on several occasions with Worcestershire County Council, pressing for a new autism free school in Malvern.

The Department for Education today wrote to Harriett confirming the new school which will be delivered as part of a £2.6bn high needs capital funding, to deliver 60 new special and Alternative Provision free schools.

Harriett said: “This is wonderful news which I know will be welcomed by the parents who have reached out to me about the challenges of supporting their children with Autism.

“I’ve been supporting this project for many years, and I am over the moon that this project will be moving forward in Malvern but offering hope to many families across the county who will benefit from this major financial investment.”