Nine new Specialist Resource Bases due to open this year
Nine new bases providing 110 specialist places are opening at mainstream primary schools this year as part of Norfolk's Local First Inclusion programme to increase capacity for children who need additional support.
Specialist Hubs of Inclusive Practice (SHIPs) are now open:
- Roydon Primary School near Diss (16 places)
- King's Park Infant in Dereham (8 places) - already open from the February half term
From Easter:
- Holly Meadows School in Pott Row near King's Lynn (16 places)
- The temporary SHIP at Sprowston Junior which will move into its new building, increasing capacity from eight places to 16
- A new Speech, Language and Communication Needs SRB at Necton Primary near Swaffham (10 places)
- A new social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) SRB at Magdalen Academy in Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen near King's Lynn (8 places)
From September, pending planning and building work:
- A new SEMH SRB at St Williams Primary in Norwich (16 places)
- A new SEMH SRB at Toftwood Infant and Junior in Dereham (16 places)
- A new autism SRB at Lingwood Primary Academy (12 places)
Five additional SRBs for autistic children and young people are due to open in 2027, including a new permanent base at Greyfriars Academy in King's Lynn to replace the temporary base which opened last year.
Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said:
"We're incredibly proud of our SRB programme. SRBs are making a real difference to children and families, helping many more children get the specialist support they need closer to home.
"We've seen children who were more than two years behind in their learning making remarkable progress, sometimes one to two years' progress in just two terms.
"It's also encouraging to see SRBs helping children return to their mainstream school or join in regularly with mainstream classes where that suits their abilities and preferences."
Glyn Hambling, Chief Executive Officer of Unity Education Trust, said:
"We are proud to support children and families across Norfolk with the opening of two new bases within Unity Education Trust. This is in addition to the temporary autism base we opened at Greyfriars Academy in King's Lynn in summer 2025 while we await a new permanent building.
"The Specialist Hub of Inclusive Practice at King's Park Infant School in Dereham and the SEMH base at Magdalen Academy are important additions to our offer. Leaders and their teams at King's Park and Greyfriars have already welcomed children into their provision. At Magdalen, the team are preparing their new space and look forward to welcoming children and their families."
Georgina Ellis, Executive Director of SEND at Unity Schools Partnership, said: "Creating the right SEND provision has long been a key priority for Unity Schools Partnership.
"We are proud of the reputation we have built providing these dedicated facilities and supporting SEND children - whether in bespoke schools or across our mainstream settings - and we look forward to opening more provision at Lingwood Primary Academy."
Over the last five years, Norfolk County Council has increased specialist provision at mainstream schools, creating 343 new SRB places at primary and secondary schools.
In the 2024/25 academic year:
- More than 600 children and young people learnt at an SRB
- 110 new places were created
- 61 per cent of children travelled less than 10 miles to their base
- Seven new SRBs opened at Lionwood Infant and Junior, Falcon Junior, Sprowston Junior, Redcastle School, Reffley Academy Primary, Greyfriars Academy Primary, and King's Lynn Academy
Expanding SRB capacity is one part of the county council's Local First Inclusion (LFI) programme which is transforming SEND education. LFI is strengthening support in mainstream schools so more children with additional needs can attend their local school with friends and siblings, whilst also increasing specialist provision through SRBs and special schools and strengthening support for children at risk of exclusion.
Watch short films about SRBs on the Norfolk SEND Local Offer Facebook page.
