Plans for expansion could help boost SEND places at specialist school

Article date: June 30th 2025

Mill Green School has been given the keys to take up the former Parr Library building, which is next to the school, to create an expanded site that will support extra places providing education for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Plans have now been submitted that would help the school provide 40 additional places once the works are complete, meeting the demand for children across the borough.

Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, welcomed the move. She said: "Mill Green School is such a wonderful place with a brilliant team offering high quality care for young people who are in need of specialist support. So many families across St Helens Borough really value the education and support it gives to students to flourish with the right kind of teaching.

"Because demand for spaces is continuing to grow I'm delighted that we can now support the school with its expansion plans, which will provide us with extra places so that more young people can take advantage of the specialist care and give young people a place that helps them to develop and grow."

Subject to planning approval the new school building will include new frontage and dedicated classrooms alongside outdoor play spaces, alongside offering the specialist facilities that some students will require.

This development will be the latest for the school, following the opening of a new classroom development last year.

Sean Lenahan, Headteacher at Mill Green School said: "We are incredibly excited about the plans for the expansion of Mill Green. There are more children and young people within St Helens who are of school and college age and require specialist support than there is currently capacity for. This is a fantastic opportunity not just for our school and the young people of St Helens, but also the local community by ensuring that the Parr Library building is repurposed to support the most vulnerable young people and their families.

"The plans will ensure that St Helens has an outstanding sensory provision that those with the most complex needs can access until they are 19, supporting all aspects of their journey into adulthood."