Representatives from key partner organisations involved in delivering the new Wolsey Park SEND school in Rayleigh have visited the site to mark the start of preparations ahead of construction.

Those attending the visit included Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability; Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford; Andy Hodgkinson, CEO of Zenith Multi Academy Trust; and Chris Bladon, Divisional Chair at Vistry, the developers of Wolsey Park.

The site visit signals the imminent start of construction activity, with building works expected to begin in early 2026. Kier Construction has been appointed as the contractor for the new Wolsey Park SEND facility.

The school will operate across two sites: the Wolsey Park development in Rayleigh and the former Chetwood Primary School site in South Woodham Ferrers. Designed as an all-through school, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 provision will be based at Wolsey Park, while Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 capacity will be delivered from the former Chetwood Primary site. The school will provide a total of 252 places and will be operated by Zenith Multi Academy Trust.

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Councillor Tony Ball said: "This new SEND school represents a significant investment in the future of our children and young people. Every child deserves to thrive and the school is a testament to what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared vision for inclusive education in Essex."

The project has been delivered through close partnership working between multiple organisations, reflecting a shared commitment to improving educational provision for children and families with special educational needs and disabilities.

Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, said: "I am delighted, that after two and a half years of hard work, including with significant support from Essex County Council, we have now, finally, broken ground on the first ever SEN school in the Rochford District. This should be a very valuable asset to the community in south Essex, when it opens, in the spring of 2027."

Andy Hodgkinson, CEO of Zenith Multi Academy Trust, said: "We are delighted that work on the actual construction itself is now about to begin. This state-of-the-art building is going to ensure that pupils with SEND experience the very best possible environment in which to learn, as is only right.

"In the meantime, we have been working really hard behind the scenes planning for the new school, and we will be launching The Wolsey Park School’s new website in the New Year so that we can provide regular updates to the wider community going forwards. We all recognise that this provision is desperately needed, and it will make a genuinely transformational difference, once its doors finally open."

Chris Bladon, Divisional Chair at Vistry, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating the approval of this fantastic new school for the residents of south Essex, helping to meet the chronic need for high-quality SEND educational provision in the area. This new school will be a valuable addition to Vistry’s Wolsey Park development with the land being transferred in accordance with the s106, and is a great example of our commitment to working in partnership to deliver vital local facilities required to support long-term, sustainable communities."

The decision to open the new special school was approved in May 2024, following increased population growth across south Essex. The Wolsey Park SEND school is expected to open in spring 2027.