The creation of a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school for almost 200 pupils in South Essex has moved a significant step closer.
Essex County Council’s Cabinet has today (Tuesday 28 May) agreed to establish a new two-site school for children and young people with severe learning difficulties.
As part of plans, 150 places will be created at a site on the Wolsey Park development, off Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh. This will be the first SEND school in the Rochford district.
Another 40 places will also be created at the former Chetwood School site in South Woodham Ferrers, taking the school’s total capacity to 190 pupils.
The school will be an all-through school, catering for pupils from the ages of three to 19. The children and young people who will attend will be some of the most vulnerable in the county with high levels of special educational needs.
During a consultation with local residents in February, almost 95% (779 out of 823) of residents supported the principle of creating the new school.
The facility will be funded via an innovative combination of section 106 contributions and a Department for Education grant.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “We are committed to helping all children in Essex get the best possible start in life. This includes providing access to excellent education in mainstream or special schools.
“The overwhelmingly positive response to the public consultation has demonstrated that this is a much-needed new provision with significant support from the local community.
“I am very pleased that the council has set out its commitment to creating this desperately needed education facility for families in South Essex and I look forward to seeing the project’s progress as we look towards the school opening in September 2026.”
The next stage of the plans will see the council initiate a competition for a Multi Academy Trust to build and run the new free school across both sites.
The school is set to open to its first pupils in September 2026.
Land near to the proposed Rawreth Lane site will be retained for future Early Years provision.
Additional mainstream primary school capacity will be added at the nearby St Nicholas CE Primary School.
