New 130-pupil SEND school to open in Wiltshire following DfE announcement

A new free school to provide 130 places for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) will be created in Wiltshire following a Department for Education announcement.

The new school for children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) will be for children aged 4 - 19. The new school will help address the growing numbers of SEND places needed in Wiltshire.

The DfE will fund and build the free school likely to open in 2026. Location is being determined and will be shared as plans progress.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: Every child and young person deserves their school to be a place where they can learn and thrive. Wiltshire Council is committed to having the right specialist support for pupils with SEND so they can enjoy their time at school, and this is good news for our Wiltshire children.

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND said: We already have allotted significant investment to creating extra SEND places but this DfE commitment to building a new school for SEND pupils is a very welcome addition and will help address the need for SEMH provision. We will be sharing more news with parents and carers as plans move forward.

Wiltshire Council is investing in additional SEND places around Wiltshire. Silverwood School is having an additional investment to extend the existing campus to provide a high quality provision for 350 pupils.

Also this week it was announced the Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning (SAIL) which is a free school for SEND pupils will open in September 2023 Salisbury special school takes significant steps towards official opening - Wiltshire Council.