Plans have been lodged for an extension to a Norfolk village school, in response to rising demand for places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Norfolk County Council wants to create a 16-place early interventions base at Roydon Primary School, near Diss.

The county council has applied to its own planning committee for permission to make the changes at the school, off Manor Road.

Roydon Primary SchoolRoydon Primary School (Image: Google Street View) Documents lodged in support of the application state "an urgent need" for extra places for SEND children.

The documents state: "This will provide much needed pupil places and offer more convenient provision for pupils in the centre of the county, limiting travel and cost associated with pupil provision being delivered away from the area."

Expansion plans for Roydon Primary SchoolExpansion plans for Roydon Primary School (Image: Norfolk County Council)

The base will see SEND children educated in a mainstream school, with high staff ratios and specialist support.

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Supporting documents state: "The local special school at Attleborough has reported a rise in applications for children who could and should have their needs met in mainstream schools with the right specialist support in place."

The proposed scheme includes a small, one-storey extension and internal remodelling, which will provide two classrooms, toilets, administration areas and stores.

Expansion plans for Roydon Primary SchoolExpansion plans for Roydon Primary School (Image: Norfolk County Council)

The new base would employ two new full-time teachers, two higher-level teaching assistants, two teaching assistants and a welfare support assistant.

Norfolk County Council leaders previously branded the SEND system "broken", as spending spirals by millions of pounds amid rising need.

Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader of Norfolk County CouncilAndrew Jamieson, deputy leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Newsquest)

Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader of Norfolk County Council, said earlier this year: "It is not delivering the best outcomes for children and the current budget set by the government is totally insufficient to meet the needs of our children."

The council signed a "safety valve" agreement with the government in March 2023, gaining £70m for education services and support for SEND children up until 2029.

But just a few months after the agreement was signed, the council told the Department for Education its scheme was "off track" and the agreement had to be renegotiated.

A decision on whether permission will be granted will be made in due course.