We have children in Suffolk Coastal and across Suffolk missing out on school - sometimes for years - because their needs can’t be met. We urgently need more specialist provision for these children.

 

On the same day (12th December 2025) that the Government approved funding to reopen the former School in Saxmundham and turn it into a new SEND school, the Government also announced an extra £3bn over three years to invest in SEND support in mainstream schools across the country. This is vital funding that I campaigned hard for, to support all children with SEND needs.

 

These two things - funding for a specialist school in Saxmundham AND funding for mainstream SEND support - mean we can now better help all children with SEND. It is not one or the other, and all children deserve access to education. But I am really concerned that the Council might choose not to open this specialist school, because they have the power to divert this funding to other things.

 

On the day of the announcement they started to hint that they might take this money but NOT spend it on opening a specialist school. A Suffolk County Council spokesperson told the media:

 

“With the proposal for a new specialist school in Saxmundham, we have until the end of February to review the Government’s proposal and weigh up the options, including how this fits with the wider need of SEND children across the county. Of course, we must be mindful of the fact that a new school of 120 places will cost well in excess of £6 million and Suffolk County Council will need to cover the funding shortfall.”

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