Plans to increase Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision in Nottingham have been approved by the Department for Education (DfE) this week.
The proposals would see the expansion of the existing Council-run Rosehill Special School into Waterside Primary School, redeveloping it into a special school.
The Council developed a SEND Sufficiency Strategy in 2023 in response to a significant increase in demand for special school places across Nottingham. As part of the strategy, plans were already underway to build a new school expansion to Rosehill Special School, at a cost of around £10 million, expected to be completed in 2027.
Now, the Council will redirect that funding to instead redevelop the Waterside building into a state-of-the-art special school facility, which could be open as early as September 2026.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said:
“Waterside Primary School was originally built to serve the new Trent Basin housing development. However, lower than initially anticipated numbers of primary-aged children living within the area resulted in low school place applications, with the DfE subsequently confirming they would not be funding the school.
“This presented a really interesting opportunity for the Council, with the potential to use the existing – unused – Waterside building as a special school.”
The repurposing of the Waterside building, instead of building an entirely new school, offers the Council a saving of over £8 million, with costs to reconfigure Waterside anticipated to be around £2 million.
The initiative would enable the Council to rapidly expand its capacity to support children with complex needs, ensuring they receive high-quality education and care within their local community, as well as reducing the reliance on costly external independent provision.
The expansion would offer up to an additional 60 school places for children and young people aged 4–19 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and a diagnosis of autism. The state-of-the-art facility would specialise in supporting children and young people with Autism Spectrum Condition needs, helping them to reach their full potential.
“We know there is huge demand for SEND places, and that demand is only increasing with time,” Cllr Khan continued.
“In Nottingham, the percentage of special school pupils requiring support for autism conditions is 43.8%, compared to a national average of 34.5%. Being able to expand Rosehill – which is rated Outstanding by Ofsted – without the need to build an entirely new facility is excellent news.
“Our priority is to ensure that all children and young people have access to the education and support they need to thrive. While the original plans for Waterside Primary School have evolved, this initiative demonstrates our commitment to finding innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our residents, particularly those requiring specialised support.
“We have been able to find a solution with minimal cost implications, that can be delivered relatively quickly, and will make a significant difference in the lives of many families,” she said.
Cheryl Steele, Headteacher at Rosehill School, added:
“This is fabulous news for Nottingham’s children and families. It clearly demonstrates that we are a city focused on enabling every child and young person to achieve the best possible outcomes in learning, social and emotional wellbeing, to fulfil their potential and participate fully in society.
“Our school’s motto, ‘Caring about Learning, Learning about Caring,’ underpins every aspect of our work; whether that is providing a rich and diverse curriculum, extending opportunities outside of school in sport, the arts, cultural engagement and work experience, or our focus on autism research and best practice to ensure the best possible outcomes for learners in preparing for adulthood.
“Alongside the Council, school leaders and Governors are delighted that our shared vision to create school places where there is need, and to ensure Government funding is targeted where it is most needed, has been achieved.”
The Council will now proceed with detailed planning and consultation with the community and other stakeholders to ensure the successful transformation of the Waterside building into a leading SEND facility.
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