(UK) Rochford: Special school may close; $130,000/student annually

Aug 8, 2025, Yellow Advertiser: Rochford special needs school at risk of closure sparking serious concerns

SE England

A “niche” special needs school in Rayleigh claims it is at risk of closure, with serious concerns being raised about the future of its students.

Omnia Foundation, based at Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club, off London Road, could close if it does not find an alternative location.

The school leaders say it is at risk of closure as the site is not suitable and the lease is due to run out in two years. The land and site is owned by Rochford Council, but it is sublet to the school by the club, which says no discussion has taken place between them and the school about the lease.

The school costs £97,000 [$130,000] a year per child and it takes children from the whole of Essex. It is also approved by the Department of Education as a school, and Ofsted regulated.

Plans are being drawn up for 360 homes, a new school for Omnia Foundation and other amenities, off Shoebury Road in Great Wakering, and the school leaders are hoping this is given the go ahead to give the school a new home.

David Kreyling, proprietor of the school, said: “Our school roll is for 30 children but we can only currently take 22, because of the facility that we are in. We went for planning permission with Rochford Council and it’ll be three years in October. We received full development committee approval from every single development committee member but we’re still in “Portcabins” and they won’t let us develop into a new school.

“We can’t be in temporary accommodation, we need accommodation that suits the needs of our children, we effectively have a waiting list really, we can’t take the kids, we’re full up. We can’t have any more planned development so for the last two or three years we’ve been looking to work with the local community and what’s needed around Essex to build a home and speaking with developers.

“The accommodation we have is literally in construction portacabins, and we take the highest special educational needs and disabilities children from a social, emotional and mental health perspective. It will be devastating if the Friends Farm development is not built and the section 106 element is not given to the school, plus the community facilities, because we will have to close.”

Ian Budge, executive director of the school fears the impact on the students if they have to travel far for their specialist education.

He added: “If it closes or we can’t find suitable provision in the county, the local authorities are going to have to pay for those young people to travel out of the county or significant distance for their provision. From the young people’s perspective, being in a car, being taxied to your school, it could be an hour and a half away, isn’t a great way to start your morning especially for our students, especially having autism or asperger’s syndrome, that in itself can just knock all the edges off of the start to their day” . . .