Five primary schools across Lincolnshire have been approved to host new hubs aimed at supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), in a move designed to make inclusive education more accessible and community-based.

The new centres will cater to pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), offering specialised support while keeping children within the mainstream school setting. This approach allows students to benefit from both tailored learning and the social advantages of remaining integrated with their peers.

The schools selected for the programme are Gonerby Hill Foot Church of England Primary School in Grantham, The Meadows Primary School in Lincoln, St George’s Church of England Primary School in Gainsborough, Caistor Church of England and Methodist Primary School, and Church Lane Primary School in Sleaford.

The total investment in the hubs exceeds £7 million and is being funded by the Department for Education. The project comes in response to a sharp increase in demand for SEND provision in the county, where the percentage of pupils with EHCPs (4.9%) is notably higher than the national average (4.2%).

Local officials say the initiative is intended to relieve pressure on oversubscribed special schools and reduce the need for families to travel long distances for appropriate support.

A well-known mosaic in Grimsby’s Freshney Place shopping centre has been demolished as part of ongoing redevelopment works, despite efforts to preserve it.

The artwork, created in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, became the focus of local campaigns earlier this year, with over 1,250 people signing a petition to save it. Groups like the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society also advocated for its retention.

North East Lincolnshire Council said it explored options to remove the mosaic tile by tile but found it was too damaged to survive extraction. Experts warned the piece was cracking significantly during removal attempts, making it impossible to preserve in its original form.

While some residents have expressed frustration, the council maintains that heritage concerns were carefully considered. It confirmed that specialist advice was sought and that scans and high-resolution images were taken before demolition.

These images will now be used to create a full-scale reproduction in a new location. The council has promised to involve the community in selecting a site for the display, ensuring the artwork’s legacy continues in a different form as part of the Freshney Place regeneration.

As Spalding Cemetery approaches its limit, South Holland District Council is assessing new options for burial space, including the potential use of a popular community playing field.

Environmental testing is currently underway at Chiltern Drive playing field to determine if the site could support burials without impacting groundwater levels. The assessment will continue into autumn. If the land proves unsuitable, the process will be halted.

Chiltern Drive has long served as a valued green space for families, dog walkers, and local children, and some residents have expressed concerns about losing one of the area’s few safe outdoor areas. The field includes swings, wildflowers, and a footpath leading into a wooded section.

Previous efforts to expand the cemetery into the same field were met with strong opposition. A 2014 planning application drew more than 100 petition signatures and was ultimately rejected in 2015 due to the loss of recreational space. Sport England also objected to the proposal at the time.

The council says no final decision will be made until all environmental findings and community considerations are fully evaluated. Officials aim to establish a long-term solution within the next year to maintain burial services in the town.

Meanwhile, the Law Commission is reviewing national burial legislation, with proposals that could allow the reuse of existing graves to ease space shortages across the country.