Former nursery to become specialist school after plans given the go-ahead

A former nursery in Newbury will be transformed into a secondary school for children with specialist educational needs and disabilities after plans were approved.

Northcroft School will deliver a bespoke learning environment for 15 pupils aged 11 to 16 with a range of severe learning conditions such as autism, attention deficit and hyperactive disorders, trauma and sensory overload.  

Its planned opening is in direct response to the government’s SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, to combat the shortage of specialist schools in West Berkshire and to set new national standards.

The school will be the second to open for Amegreen Children’s Services, after Haywards Farm Primary School opened in Theale in September 2023. Amegreen also provides children’s homes across Hampshire and Berkshire.

Rachel Redgwell, Director at Amegreen, said: “We're incredibly proud to be granted planning permission for a new secondary school, less than one year after opening our primary school.

“Since then, we have seen a consistently high number of enquiries for places and Northcroft School is helping to meet that need in the community.

“We’re pleased to be able to give more local children the education they need to fulfil their potential and be well prepared for adulthood and employment.”

Once Northcroft School is open, Amegreen will work with businesses to equip students with the skills required to enter employment, including supporting them to complete apprenticeships with local organisations such as the Costa Coffee training academy.

Tentative agreements have been made with Waterside Centre and Northcroft Lane Leisure Centre to support the school’s curriculum. Northcroft students will also have the opportunity to benefit from equine therapy at Amegreen’s stables in Berkshire.

The school is scheduled to open in time for the new school year in September.

Amegreen were supported by independent planning consultants ET Planning, throughout the application process. Gareth Jones and David Wetherill of ET Planning provided planning advice related to policies concerning town centre development, flood risk and works related to a heritage asset, as well as highlighting the national policy presumption for the development of schools, as enshrined in NPPF Paragraph 99.