Notts schools to receive £69 million funding boost

A commitment by the government to pump £69m worth of capital funds into Nottinghamshire schools has been welcomed by the county council and described as ‘a ground-breaking slice of investment.’

The funding, announced this week by the Department for Education, will be allocated over two years and will be spent on securing additional pupil places including for those with specialist educational needs.

Nottinghamshire will receive £44m up until 2024 for an additional 2,000 school places as part of its basic need capital funding allocation. This money will be spent on building new classrooms or schools.

An additional £25m, over two years, has been earmarked to help SEND (special educational needs or disability) pupils. These funds could re-design existing schools, including creating calm rooms and calm play areas.

This latest allocation of funds to Nottinghamshire schools follows the county council securing funds in the summer from the government’s £1bn Rebuilding Schools Programme to refurbish Ashfield School, Kirkby College and Toot Hill School in Bingham.

- Advertisement -

County Councillor Tracey Taylor, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said: “The £69m commitment by the government this week to boost the education of pupils in Nottinghamshire is a ground-breaking slice of investment.

“This money represents an investment twice as much as many other similar-sized local authorities – I’m delighted for our schoolchildren, parents and teachers.

“Not only will the £44m allocation fund thousands of pupil places, but it will also help our construction industry and enable the recruitment of additional teachers.

“I’m also really happy for our pupils with specialist needs in Nottinghamshire, with £25m being specially ringfenced to create more places and a better learning environment.

“In our ambitious ten-year council plan, we committed to providing sufficient school places and giving greater choice to parents. This huge commitment to investing in local schools by the government will significantly help our vision.”