Plans to create a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) unit at a Nottinghamshire primary school are set to move forward after councillors were presented with updated cost estimates for the project.
A report to Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management on 16 March 2026 outlines the latest projected cost of delivering the SEND unit at Samuel Barlow Primary Academy in Clipstone, ahead of a decision on whether to proceed to construction.
The total estimated cost of the scheme is £1,119,660, including just under £990,000 for building works, around £99,800 for professional services, and £30,000 for furniture and equipment. The majority of spending is expected to take place during the 2026/27 financial year.
The project forms part of the council’s wider SEND programme, which aims to expand and improve education provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across Nottinghamshire. The programme is linked to the SEND Place Planning Strategy for 2021–2026, approved in September 2021, which set out plans to create 490 additional specialist school places by September 2026.
The proposed unit at Samuel Barlow Primary Academy, operated by Diverse Academies Trust, would provide three dedicated classrooms for up to 24 pupils. It would also include specialist facilities such as a sensory room, quiet rooms, a library area, dining and social spaces, and an external sensory garden.
According to the report, locating SEND provision within a mainstream school is intended to allow pupils to access specialist support while remaining part of their local community, reducing the need to travel long distances to specialist schools.
The council has a statutory duty to ensure that children and young people receive appropriate educational placements in line with their Education, Health and Care Plans, and the report states that doing nothing is not considered a viable option.
Funding for the project would come from the council’s special schools capital programme, supported by High Needs Provision Capital allocations from the Department for Education. Nottinghamshire has received £60.5 million for SEND provision between 2021/22 and 2025/26, of which £42.5 million has already been committed or spent, leaving around £18 million available for this and future schemes.
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The report states that costs have been subject to internal review and benchmarking, including competitive tendering for specialist elements, to ensure they reflect current market conditions and provide value for money.
If approved, the scheme would move into the construction phase, contributing to the council’s ongoing programme to increase SEND capacity in local schools and reduce reliance on placements further from home.
A final decision on whether to approve the project at the updated cost level rests with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management.
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