28th October 2021

• A new special school will open on the Norfolk Park estate in Sheffield in September 2022. The school, called Discovery Academy, will be run by the Nexus Multi-Academy Trust.

  The school will be for pupils aged 7 to 16 years who:
  – have identified communication and interactions needs (this would typically mean having an autism diagnosis or being on the waiting list for an autism assessment)
  – might also have social, emotional or mental health needs (SEMH)
  – AND are working significantly below age-related expectations in at least some subjects.

  School places will be for pupils with EHC plans and will be allocated through the local authority’s SEND Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS).

  The school will be for 80 pupils, although it won’t open at full capacity. The majority of places will be for Sheffield pupils.

  There will be an initial focus on Y3-Y8 with a particular attention placed on phase transfer pupils (Y7s), inappropriately placed pupils and pupils currently attending out-of-city provision. Limiting the age range in the first instance will allow the school to grow the relevant pathways into qualifications, life skills and employment that children and young people with SEND require.

  Discovery Academy will be run by Nexus Multi-Academy Trust, which already has nine special schools and a mainstream primary school across South Yorkshire. This includes Becton School, a special school in Sheffield.

  Visit the Discovery Academy website for the school prospectus, curriculum details and where to go if you have a question or want to know more.