Provisional opening date set for Salisbury's new SEND school

A provisional opening date has been set for the new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school in Salisbury.

The Department for Education have confirmed it will open in September 2023, however the former UTC site on Wilton Road won't be ready until later in the Autumn.

Initially, the new school will open on a temporary basis in part of Pembroke Park Primary School in Salisbury and the current site of Springfields in the South at Sarum Academy.

The new 'Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning' will then move to its permanent home once the construction is complete.

The SEND free school project will offer 150 places for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to help them receive more specialised support.

Dean Ashton, Chief Executive at Reach South Academy Trust, said:

“We are delighted that the provisional opening date has been agreed. This is a major step for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Wiltshire. We are looking forward to consulting with parents and young people in the area about the school that will meet their needs. We will, with our partners, establish a governing body for the school and start the process of appointing a headteacher and team and ensure that everyone is fully prepared for the new school to open in September 2023."

This announcement means that consultations for children and young people for places at the new school can now get underway.

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND said:

“This SEND free school project is an exciting development to ensure our young people with SEND in the south of Wiltshire have first class facilities and the right learning environment to do well and enjoy school.

"I am delighted we have the green light from the DfE to now go ahead and start preparing for next September and creating these additional places. SAIL will open to pupils initially on the Pembroke Park site and then move to the permanent home. We will work alongside DfE and Reach South to ensure a smooth transition to the new site once it’s ready.”

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• send school
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