New schools for 2,000 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are to open in 16 areas across England.
The schools will be supported by an initial £105m, announced in this year's Spring Budget.
Local authorities applied to have one of the free schools in their areas, but the schools will be run by academy trusts.
Since 2010, 108 schools have been opened as part of the Department for Education’s (DfE) special free schools programme.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: ‘I know how hard it can be for families trying to navigate the SEND system, and the creation of more brilliant special schools is just one part of our plan to make sure every family and every child get the right support, in the right place at the right time.’
The Local Government Association welcomed the funding but said it would not solve the worsening financial crisis in SEND, adding that councils did not think special school places were becoming available quickly enough.
The association said: ‘We are keen to work with the DfE to ensure this process can be made to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure the needs of children and young people with SEND can be met.’
