Proposed new special schools in Great Yarmouth and Downham Market have the strong backing of parents and the schools, according to a Norfolk County Council report.
Members of the council’s Children, Families and Community Select Committee will meet on 10 February to discuss the rationale for the schools and the alternative funding option offered by Government.
Back in December, the council was given the option to proceed with the schools – which will cost in the region of £40m – or take a lower sum of £13.7m from the Government to fund specialist places in existing mainstream schools.
The council successfully bid for the new schools back in 2023 but has spent the last two years waiting for confirmation that the funding would be released, following a review of Government policy.
The funding announcement, in December, did not confirm if Government would meet the full cost of the two schools, or if the council could deliver the buildings itself. This has now been confirmed.
Last week, Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council, said she was “strongly minded” to push ahead with the schools. However, because of the size of investment, the proposal needs to follow the correct democratic process.
The Select Committee report is one stage of that process, with members asked to make recommendations to Cabinet.
Despite Norfolk County Council work to create 1,325 specialist places over the last five years, the report makes it clear that there is still significant pressure for places in both Great Yarmouth and Downham Market.
The two new schools would create a further 270 places and, alongside other plans, would bring the number of additional specialist places in the county (including specialist places in mainstream schools) to 2,475.
Cllr Brian Long, Chairman of the Children, Families and Community Committee, said: “As members of this committee we have been pushing for the Government to release this funding and wrote to the DfE last year to highlight the impact of the delays on Norfolk’s children.
“It is encouraging that we now have this funding confirmed and this report makes a strong case to push ahead. However, do need to consider the alternative proposed by Government, so it is important that committee has a chance to ask questions and consider all of the evidence available.”
Both schools already had Academy Trusts appointed – Unity for Great Yarmouth and Eastern Learning Alliance for Downham Market. The Great Yarmouth school will support 170 children with learning disabilities, whilst the Downham Market school will cater for 100 children with complex communication and interaction difficulties.
Norfolk County Council had asked the Government if it could self-deliver the schemes, following its successful delivery of Bure Park and the Duke of Lancaster. The Government has said this may be possible, and Cabinet will also need to consider this option.
Cllr Carpenter added: “As a council we remain committed to ensuring children with SEND get the education they deserve, as close to home as possible. These schools will support children with the highest needs and reduce the time they have to travel to school.
“At the same we are wrapping support around mainstream schools so that they can meet the needs of more children with SEND in their local communities.
“I remain strongly minded to approve the plans and I am grateful to our officers who have worked so hard to get us to this point. I look forward to hearing the views of Select Committee, which will help shape the decision made by Cabinet later this month.”
