Plans to create a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school in South Essex have moved forward.
Our Cabinet agreed today (Tuesday 28 May) to establish the new two-site school. The school will have space for 190 pupils.
A total of 150 places will be 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.
The all-through school will cater for pupils from the ages of three to 19. Its pupils will be some of the most vulnerable in the county with high levels of special educational needs.
During a consultation, almost 95% of residents supported the principle of creating the new school.
It will be funded via a 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.
We will now initiate a competition for a Multi Academy Trust to build and run the new free school.
The school is set to open to its first pupils in September 2026.
