(UK) Norfolk: Council approves 2 special schools for 270 students; cost: $55M
- The end of childhood
- 13 hours ago
- 1 min read
Feb 10, 2026, Eastern Daily Press: Councillors back new schools for two Norfolk towns
Plans to build new schools in two Norfolk towns - at a cost of about £40m [$55M] - have been backed by county councillors.
But Norfolk County Council education chiefs, who want to open the special schools in Great Yarmouth and Downham Market, say they are unlikely to look to get money for any further special schools once those are built.
They say, while those schools - which would cater for 270 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - are needed, the authority's future strategy is to focus on specialist resource bases and trying to keep SEND youngsters within mainstream education. . . .
"Once these two schools exist and the specialist resource bases are complete, that should be, in our view, enough for Norfolk. James Wilson, Norfolk County Council director of sufficiency, planning and education (Image: Norfolk "It isn't our view that we would want to fund five more special schools, if we could.
"In theory, these two, with the specialist resource bases, would give Norfolk quite a rich portfolio of provision, which would meet a good level of need.
"Our view is we need to be focusing on mainstream inclusion."
Comments