Around 3,500 places will be created at 39 schools catering for children with special educational needs (SEN) and other difficulties, according to Education Secretary Damian Hinds.
Under the programme, every region in the country will get a new free school for pupils with complex needs such as autism, severe learning difficulties or mental health conditions, and for those at risk of being excluded from mainstream schools.
The move follows Hinds' December announcement of £250m extra funding for local authorities' high needs budget, building on an additional £100m of capital funding for additional places and better facilities.
Hinds said: "We want every school to be a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
"That's why we are investing significant funding into special education needs units attached to mainstream schools and in additional support so children with education, health and care plans can access mainstream education.
"But we recognise some children require more specialist support. These new special free schools and alternative provision schools will make sure that more complex needs can be provided to help support every child to have a quality education."
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