Mansfield school to be expanded with new SEND centre

Construction can now begin on a £3.3 million plan to increase special educational needs places in three Nottinghamshire schools – including one in Mansfield – after councillors approved the cash.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Nottinghamshire Council will invest in the new facilities this year, with the project expected to create 74 new school places by autumn 2022.

King Edward Primary School and Nursery, St Andrew Street, Mansfield, will receive 24 places, with a specialist ‘satellite centre’ to be built on the 120-year-old school site.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The work will involve remodelling a two-classroom building and adding ‘calm rooms’. The inside of the school will also be reworked alongside play area improvements.

King Edward Primary School and Nursery, St Andrew Street, Mansfield.King Edward Primary School and Nursery, St Andrew Street, Mansfield.
King Edward Primary School and Nursery, St Andrew Street, Mansfield.

The work, which is expected to cost £695,380, is scheduled for completion by October or November.

Work to create 20 places at Derrymount School, Daybrook, includes a two-classroom modular building, while 30 places are planned for Newark Orchard School, Balderton, with a two-storey extension.

Members of the council’s finance committee approved the funding at their latest meeting.

Read More
Woman bailed over Mansfield town centre bar attack

Needed

Coun Andre Camilleri, who represents Mansfield South, said: “King Edward Primary falls into my division and it is really needed in Mansfield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m looking forward to seeing it, it will really add to the school – we do have special needs in Mansfield obviously, so it will be used and I welcome this report.”

Coun Anne Callaghan, member for Mansfield North, said: “From working with families with SEND children, there is much need for these places.”

But one councillor questioned why the Newark Orchard School works were not completed when the school went through its initial construction over the past few years.

Coun Tom Hollis, member for Sutton West, said: “How much more has it cost the taxpayers not to build this at the same time as the wider school?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I struggle to believe building the classrooms when nobody was on-site was less of a disruption to children than building it now while they’re on-site.”

Coun Richard Jackson, committee chairman, said: “Rather than building something that’s over-provided at the beginning, the build at the first place is done in such a way to add to it. It’s designed to be extended once the need is actually there.

“It was always predicted to come, it has just come sooner than it might have done and I would dispute it has cost us any more.”

A message from Jon Ball, your Chad Editor: Enjoy our headlines with fewer distractions and sign up to a digital subscription today - fewer ads, faster load times and all of the stories you need. Your support for our journalism means we can continue supporting our communities for generations to come. Visit chad.co.uk/subscriptions