Plans are progressing to create a new school in Calderdale, supporting children and young people with specialist educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Calderdale Council is committed to supporting those with complex needs and has been working to expand and increase the number of specialist placements within the borough.
A significant part of this work involves the creation of a new Specialist Free School at the site of the former Threeways Community Centre in Ovenden. The school will create 200 places for children aged 4-16 with Education, Health and Care Plans, primarily supporting those with autism, speech, language and communication needs, and social emotional and mental health needs
The Council is funding the building of the school and is now inviting proposals from Multi-Academy Trusts to establish and run the new school, with the aim of opening in September 2028.
The new school will enable more children to attend a local, state-funded specialist school that meets their individual needs, reducing the disruption to children and families, some of whom face long journeys to independent provision outside of Calderdale.
The initiative is a central ambition of the Calderdale SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy 2025-30, which sets out a shared vision and partnership ambitions for children and young people with SEND and their families.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Adam Wilkinson, said:
“This major investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting our growing population of children and young people with specialist education needs and addressing the shortfall in these school places.
“As part of our Vision 2034 ambition, we want everyone to be able to reach their potential, and a key part of this is ensuring that children with specialist needs can access high-quality education closer to home.
“The former Threeways site offers an exciting opportunity for the creation of a new, carefully designed centre of excellence, in a convenient location. We’re now seeking applications from well-established Multi-Academy Trusts to deliver our ambitions for the site, working in partnership to meet the needs of our young people and achieve the vision for our place.”
More information about the project and how Multi-Academy Trusts can submit proposals, is available at calderdale.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/threeways(external link). The deadline is February 2026, after which time the Council will review submissions and work with the Department of Education to progress the project.