A 30-place SEND unit will be built at Royal Liberty School, following funding approval from Havering Council’s cabinet.
The unit, costing £2.7 million, will support students aged 11 to 16 with communication and interaction needs, including autism and speech, language, and communication difficulties.
Councillor Oscar Ford, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The new facility will help to meet the rising demand for SEND places in the borough and will allow pupils to have specialist support, while still having access to a mainstream secondary curriculum.
“In addition, it will help to reduce the need to place secondary school pupils outside the borough, ultimately reducing the cost of out-of-borough placements.”
The Department for Education has approved the proposed changes at the school, and the project will be funded through the SEND Capital Grant.
The new unit is expected to open for the September 2027 school year.
