A new all-age special school could be built in Staffordshire, to help more children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities get support closer to home.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved £28.6 million to deliver two new education projects: a special school in Rugeley and a primary Pupil Referral Unit in Stafford.
Both projects are to be funded from the “High Needs Provision Capital Allocation” (HNPCA) government grant.
Families can have their say to shape plans for the school. An initial consultation on the new special school is already open, and will close this Friday (17 July).
Subject to the usual approvals and consultation, the new special school would be built on the former Hagley Park Academy site in Rugeley. It would support replace with primary and secondary aged children who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs and Autism Spectrum Condition.
Once fully open, it would provide around 180 places and is expected to open in September 2029.
The school would help meet growing need for specialist education in Staffordshire and mean more children can go to school closer to home instead of travelling further afield.
Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“We want every child with SEND to get the right support at the right time, as close to home as possible.
“These new places will help more children and young people get the right help earlier, in the right setting, so they can settle, make progress and thrive.
“For families, it means better local support and more confidence that their child can get the education and care that is right for them.”
The funding will also support a new primary Pupil Referral Unit in Stafford, providing up to 16 places for children who need extra support to help them return to mainstream education where this is right for them.
The plans are part of the county council’s work to create more local education places for children and young people with SEND and those who need alternative provision.
