Guidance

Local authority specifications

Updated 9 May 2024

Applies to England

We are now inviting applications from proposer groups to open new schools in these areas. Find out how to apply to open a special free school.

Contact the relevant local authority for more information about:

  • the local context in their area
  • their SEND strategy
  • the per-pupil revenue funding they would expect to pay
  • engagement events

Cambridgeshire

Gamlingay

Specification
Local authority contact Clare Cook, 0-25 Education Officer, SEND Place Planning

Email: clare.cook@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Regional director contact Jonathan Duff, Regional Director for East of England

Email: RG.EOE@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Social, emotional and mental health
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Cambridgeshire County Council
Number of places 60
Per-pupil revenue funding £10,000 per FTE pupil
Age range 11 to 16
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re progressing the site identified in the local authority’s application: Green End, Gamlingay, Sandy, SG19 3LE
Local context Cambridgeshire local context
Trust development statement Trust development statement

This table shows the number of places the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reception 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 20 30 36 36 36 36 36
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 10 15 24 24 24 24 24
16 to 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 30 45 60 60 60 60 60

March

Specification
Local authority contact Clare Cook, 0-25 Education Officer, SEND Place Planning

Email: clare.cook@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Regional director contact Jonathan Duff, Regional Director for East of England

Email: RG.EOE@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; and autistic spectrum disorder
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Cambridgeshire County Council
Number of places 210
Per-pupil revenue funding £10,000 per FTE pupil
Age range 2 to 19
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re progressing the site identified in the local authority’s application: land adjacent to Kingswood Road, March, PE15 9RT
Local context Cambridgeshire local context
Trust development statement Trust development statement

This table shows the number of places the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Reception 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 20 22 24 26 28 30 31
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 40 44 48 52 56 60 61
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 30 33 36 39 42 45 46
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 0 10 20 22 24 26 27
16 to 19 0 0 0 8 16 24 24
Totals 105 125 145 165 185 205 210

Kent

Swanley

Specification
Local authority contact Ian Watts, Area Education Officer, North Kent

Email: ian.watts@kent.gov.uk

Tel: 03000 414302
Regional director contact Dame Kate Dethridge, Regional Director for South-East

Email: RG.SE@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Severe learning difficulty; physical disability; profound and multiple learning difficulty; autistic spectrum disorder
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Kent County Council
Number of places 250
Per-pupil revenue funding Severe learning difficulty: £17,336; physical disability: £24,582; profound and multiple learning difficulty: £24,582; autistic spectrum disorder: £20,065
Age range 4 to 19
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re progressing the site identified in the local authority’s application: Birchwood Community Primary School site, Russett Way, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7TP
Local context Kent local context

This table shows the number of places the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reception 9 18 18 18 18 18 18
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 18 27 36 36 36 36 36
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 36 54 72 72 72 72 72
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 36 45 54 54 54 54 54
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 0 18 27 36 36 36 36
16 to 19 0 17 26 34 34 34 34
Totals 99 179 233 250 250 250 250

Whitstable

Specification
Local authority contact Marisa White, Area Education Officer, East Kent

Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk

Tel: 03000 418794 or 07834841560
Regional director contact Dame Kate Dethridge, Regional Director for South-East

Email: RG.SE@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Severe learning difficulty; physical disability; profound and multiple learning difficulty; and autistic spectrum disorder
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Kent County Council
Number of places 120
Per-pupil revenue funding Severe learning difficulty: £17,336; physical disability: £24,582; profound and multiple learning difficulty: £24,582; autistic spectrum disorder: £20,065
Age range 4 to 19
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re progressing the site identified in the local authority’s application: playing field, Church Street, Whitstable, CT5 1PF
Local context Kent local context

This table shows the number of places the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reception 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 9 18 18 18 18 18 18
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 18 27 36 36 36 36 36
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 18 27 27 27 27 27 27
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 0 9 18 18 18 18 18
16 to 19 0 0 8 12 12 12 12
Totals 54 90 116 120 120 120 120

Merton

Specification
Local authority contact Tom Procter, Head of Contracts and School Organisation

Email: tom.procter@merton.gov.uk

Tel: 020 8545 3306
Regional director contact Claire Burton, Regional Director for London

Email: RG.LONDON@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication needs
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Merton Council
Number of places 120
Per-pupil revenue funding Band 1: £20,000; band 2: £25,000; band 3: £35,000
Age range 4 to 16
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re working with the local authority to identify a suitable site
Local context Merton local context

This table shows the number of places the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reception 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 6 8 10 10 10 10 10
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 10 14 21 24 26 28 28
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 17 24 36 42 46 48 48
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 8 14 18 26 30 32 32
16 to 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 43 62 87 104 114 120 120

Norfolk

Downham Market

Specification
Local authority contact Michael Bateman, Assistant Director, SEND, Strategic Improvement and Partnerships

Email: Michael.bateman@norfolk.gov.uk
Regional director contact Jonathan Duff, Regional Director for East of England

Email: RG.EOE@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Autistic spectrum disorder
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Norfolk County Council
Number of places 100
Per-pupil revenue funding £10,000 per place; top-up £3,000 to £30,000
Age range 5 to 19
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re progressing the site identified in the local authority’s application: Ryston End, Downham Market, PE38 9AX
Local context Norfolk local context
Trust development statement Trust development statement

This table shows the number of places that the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reception 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 24 24 24 24 24 24 24
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 18 36 36 36 36 36 36
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 0 6 18 24 24 24 24
16 to 19 0 0 0 5 10 10 10
Totals 48 72 84 95 100 100 100

Great Yarmouth

Specification
Local authority contact Michael Bateman, Assistant Director, SEND, Strategic Improvement and Partnerships

Email: Michael.bateman@norfolk.gov.uk
Regional director contact Jonathan Duff, Regional Director for East of England

Email: RG.EOE@education.gov.uk
SEN designation Severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; and moderate learning difficulty
Local authorities committed to commissioning places Norfolk County Council
Number of places 170
Per-pupil revenue funding £10,000 per place; top-up £3,000 to £30,000
Age range 3 to 19
Gender co-educational
Type of placements offered full-time
Proposed site We’re progressing the site identified in the local authority’s application: Jellicoe Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 4HF
Local context Norfolk local context
Trust development statement Trust development statement

This table shows the number of places the local authority proposes for each year group at the point of opening until the school is full.

Year group Year of opening +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
Nursery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reception 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Key stage 1 (years 1 to 2) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Key stage 2 (years 3 to 6) 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
Key stage 3 (years 7 to 9) 10 20 54 54 54 54 54
Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11) 0 0 0 18 36 36 36
16 to 19 0 0 0 20 20 20 20
Totals 70 80 114 152 170 170 170