SEVERAL special schools in Warrington are facing overcrowding issues.

Data from the Department for Education from last year showed that nearly two-thirds of special schools were full or overcrowded across England – with a union warning a lack of funding is letting down children.

The figures show three of the four special schools in Warrington were over capacity in the 2022-23 school year.

Chaigeley School had 48 children on its roll, despite officially having 36 places, while Fox Wood Special School had 126 pupils for 78 places.

In addition, Green Lane Community Special School was at its capacity of 220 children.

Across England, 63 per cent of 1,077 special schools had at least met capacity, with around 4,000 more pupils than places.

The Department for Education said this "may be a result of the way capacity has been measured, which does not take account of type of need."

Rob Williams, senior policy adviser at school leaders’ union NAHT, said the figures represent a "complete mismatch" between the needs of these children and the funding available to schools and local authorities.

He said: "There are simply not enough special schools for pupils who need more specialist support.

"Many children are therefore instead being placed in mainstream schools which may themselves be over capacity, and may not have the staff, expertise or resources needed to offer the best possible education and support."

Mr Williams urged increased funding for children with special educational needs.

The figures further show nearly a quarter of state secondary schools across England were full or overcrowded, largely unchanged from a year before.

In Warrington, four of 13 schools were at or above capacity.

Meanwhile, 17 per cent of primary schools across the country were facing the same issue – with 23 of them in Warrington.

In the Spring Budget the Chancellor promised £105 million over the next four years to build more than a dozen new special free schools.

The Treasury said it would create more than 2,000 additional places for children with Send in England.