By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A city school which is “oversubscribed” will benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding for new facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Nottingham City Council says £360,000 will be used to improve facilities for SEND children at Greenfields Community Primary School in the Meadows.
The school has seen an increase in children with autism and other complex needs attending which is putting “significant pressure” on the school.
More than £300,000 of Section 106 funding – money from developers to mitigate the impact of new homes on local communities – will be used, alongside £57,182 from Nottingham City Council.
The Section 106 funding in this case is from the Trent Bridge Quays homes and the Nottingham Railway car park development.
The ‘Foundation Unit’ at the school will be extended as part of the plans.
Three rooms will also be refurbished to create a “calming and sensory space” for the children.
Council documents state: “Currently, the increase in pupils with autism and other complex needs is putting significant pressure on the Foundation Unit and there is a need to have some additional space and facilities to effectively support the needs of the pupils.
“Greenfields Primary is currently full and oversubscribed and has been for some time.
“Currently the increase in pupils with autism is putting a great deal of pressure on the Foundation Unit and there is a need for additional space and facilities in the unit to deal with the more complex needs of pupils, and to support them to remain in mainstream school.
“Refurbishment of three other rooms will also create calming and sensory space to support the children as they move through the year groups.”
The school is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.
