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Funding approved for new UK SEND school
Trym Valley Academy set to ease local pressure
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Wednesday 31st December 2025 |
Funding has been approved for Trym Valley Academy, a new specialist SEND free school in Bristol designed to support 164 children and young people with complex needs.
Located on the former Elmfield School site in Southmead, the project is part of a £3bn government reform programme.
The academy aims to address the rising demand for specialist places, supporting Bristol City Council's target of creating 569 additional spaces.
By offering a curriculum that includes GCSEs alongside therapeutic services - such as speech and language support and occupational therapy - the school hopes to reduce exclusions and the need for expensive out-of-area placements.
Enable Trust, which manages several specialist schools in South Gloucestershire, will run the academy.
Their approach focuses on promoting academic achievement and wellbeing while helping young people prepare for independent living.
The purpose-built facility will feature modern indoor and outdoor spaces, which will also be available for community use outside of school hours.
This development represents a significant step in improving local provision for the neurodivergent community and families across the region.
Source: BBC News Bristol (UK)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04vk5lrrl3o
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