Nottinghamshire County Council new specialist school could be built in Ollerton

Nottinghamshire County Council has moved plans for a school to benefit students with special educational needs and/or disabilities to the next stage.

The school, which will be built in either the Ollerton or Hucknall area, plans to offer 75 places for students.

A £150,000 feasibility study to find a site for the school has been put in place by the county council at a recent policy meeting, after data identified the two areas as having the greatest need for the investment.

The county council has increased investment in special needs schools significantly since 2015, with the new school aiming to help the growing demand for schools of this nature.

Kay Cutts, leader of the county council, said :"Being able to fully meet the educational needs of all young people is clearly a priority for the County Council, so it is vital to move these plans on to the next stage and avoid any unnecessary delays to the creation of a new specialist school.”

As well as the plans for the new school, the council are currently investing £16.4 million to rebuild and expand the Newark Orchard Special School, creating a further 40 specialist placements.

Since 2010, the number of young people with special educational needs has doubled across the county.

This rise is mainly a result of significant changes to the national criteria for a special educational needs assessment, including an increase to the upper age limit from 18 to 25 years old.

There is estimated to be more that 4,000 young people with educational needs in Nottinghamshire by January 2023.

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