86 new specialist education places proposed for Norfolk schools

A total of 86 new specialist education places are being proposed at six mainstream schools in Norfolk thanks to the county council's £120 million SEND transformation programme.

Six consultations have opened for the views of parents, professionals, and residents. If agreed, the proposals would see three brand new Specialist Resource Base (SRB) classrooms built on three school sites and existing SRBs at a further three schools increasing their capacity for more children and young people.

The new places, which will be for primary and secondary age children and young people, are in addition to 30 new places agreed earlier this year - bringing the total number of new SRB places provided by the council's transformation programme to 116 this year.

Cllr Daniel Elmer, deputy cabinet member for Children's Services, said: "It's excellent to see the momentum with which we have been able to support the provision of new special education places at mainstream schools across the county.

"In just a matter of months we have seen proposals for 116 much-needed new places for children of a range of ages and a variety of needs thanks to partnerships between the county council, schools, and education trusts.

"I hope this increased capacity at multiple locations across Norfolk will make a real difference to children and young people with SEND and their families."

• Wensum Trust is consulting over proposals to build two new 25-place autism bases. One is proposed for Acle Academy, whilst the other is proposed for Alderman Peel High School in Wells-next-the-Sea. View the Acle consultationand the Wells consultation.
• Corvus Education Trust is consulting over a proposal for a new 16-place social emotional and mental health (SEMH) base at Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery School and Watton Junior School. If agreed, the plan would be to locate the new building behind Watton Junior School within the school grounds. View the Watton consultation.
• Inspiration Trust is consulting over proposals to expand three of its existing autism bases providing an additional 20 places.

View the consultation to expand the base at Thetford Academy from 20 to 25 places.

View the consultation to expand the base at Cromer Academy from 15 to 20 places.

View the consultation to expand the base at The Hewett School in Norwich from 10 to 20 places.

Earlier this year these proposals for a further 30 new specialist education places at SRBs were agreed:

• An existing learning and cognition base at Hillside Primary School in Bradwell near Great Yarmouth is being doubled to bring the provision from 10 to 20 places.
• Synergy Multi Academy Trust is developing a 20-place new autism base at Stalham High School. A building next to the school is being re-modelled by the county council to accommodate this.

Views on the consultations at Acle, Watton and Wells can be submitted until Monday 10 October. Views on the consultations at Thetford, Cromer and Norwich can be submitted until Tuesday 18 October.