Guidance
Local authority specifications
Published 23 August 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-open-a-special-free-school-in-cambridgeshire-kent-merton-or-norfolk/local-authority-specifications
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 |