Plans for a new independent school for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Rushcliffe have been submitted.
Wellbrook Education, a specialist education provider, applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council for the new school in Browns Lane Business Park, Stanton On The Wolds, Keyworth on Tuesday (October 7).
The provider has an existing location in Hatton, Derby, and is now looking to expand its educational services into Nottinghamshire by converting former office and call centre space in the business park into a new school.
The space was previously used by Golder, an international company which provided consulting, design and construction services but it left the site in 2021 and was acquired by another company.
Wellbrook caters to young people aged nine to 16 with SEND and who have a primary diagnosis of autism or social and mental health needs.
If approved, the new school would be able to accommodate 25 pupils aged nine to 16 across four classrooms with the aim of helping students “flourish and enjoy fulfilling lives out in the community” according to plans.
According to Wellbrook’s website, the provider uses the outcomes of Education, Health and Care Plans along with parental input and student interests to find personalised learning pathways, which includes for GCSEs, functional core studies and social curriculum.
The former offices benefited from its own outdoor space which will be “repurposed” for an outdoor playground with a new 2.4 metre fence for security.
If approved, it would operate in conventional school hours, generally between 8:30am and 3:30pm, and the new school would potentially be the provider’s third location and would be twinned with an existing school.
The new school would be funded by Nottinghamshire County Council.
According to separate council documents, the alternative average cost of a maintained special school is around £28,300 each year, while the average cost of an independent specialist placement is around £62,796.
The council will decide on the application at a later date.
