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New Special School in Norfolk County Council to Create 27 Additional Places for Children with SEND

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Construction on a new, state-of-the-art school in Swaffham, Norfolk, has reached a significant milestone, with a ceremonial topping-out marking the completion of the roof and weathertightness of the building. The Fred Nicholson Special School, which currently caters for 224 children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), will relocate to a new site on Lynn Road in spring 2026. The expansion will not only provide new spaces for early years and infant school children but also create 27 additional special school places, bringing the total to 358 new places in the last five years.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new school will have three storeys, 17 main classrooms, dedicated areas for sixth form and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provision, and specialist teaching areas for life skills, sensory immersion, and sensory and physical development.
  • The construction project is part of Norfolk County Council's Local First Inclusion programme, a £multi-million initiative aimed at providing wraparound support and expertise to mainstream schools to help them support children with SEND.
  • The expansion is due to open in spring 2026 and will accommodate 27 additional children with SEND, in addition to the current 224 students.
  • In the last five years, Norfolk County Council has built three new special schools, creating a combined 358 new school places, and expanded existing special schools to create a further 289 new school places, resulting in a 41% increase in the number of special school places in Norfolk.
  • The council plans to deliver another 77 new special school places through expansion projects and is awaiting DfE decision on two new special schools in Downham Market and Great Yarmouth, which would deliver another 270 places.

Statistics:

  • 27 additional special school places will be created as a result of the Fred Nicholson school expansion.
  • 224 children with SEND will attend the new school once it opens in spring 2026.
  • 358 new school places have been created in Norfolk through new special schools built in the last five years.
  • 289 additional new school places have been created in Norfolk through expansions of existing special schools in the last five years.
  • The number of special school places in Norfolk has increased by 41% in the last five years.
  • The council plans to deliver 77 new special school places through expansion projects.
  • Two new special schools are under consideration in Downham Market and Great Yarmouth, which would deliver an additional 270 places.

Sources:

  • "News release: Norfolk County Council." No author provided (2023)
  • "Fred Nicholson School Relocation & Expansion - Norfolk County Council." No author provided (2023)

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