New school for 100 SEND children planned

Waltham Forest Council has put forward plans for the creation of a new site providing specialist provision for up to 100 children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), in partnership with the Lime Trust. 

The identified location is a council-owned site currently occupied by Chapel End Early Years Centre, which is relocating to join its partner site at Chapel End Infant School this summer under already-existing plans. Reusing an existing education building will ensure the project is both time and cost-effective.

The new specialist SEND site will be run by Lime Academy Hornbeam as an extension of their existing provision in the borough. The school will increase incrementally from 40 pupils in September 2026 to full capacity (100 pupils) over the next 3 years. 

Waltham Forest Council has a statutory duty to maintain enough school places for children and young people with SEND; as part of this commitment, we want to ensure every child has access to high-quality, nurturing learning environments close to their home. This both retains connections with communities and reduces the reliance on out-of-borough placements, which can increase travel time for children.

Although disruption to the local area is expected to be minimal during the site’s development and once it has opened, the council will ensure the local community is fully engaged while plans are developed. As part of the Change of Use planning application, a full Transport Assessment will be undertaken to assess potential impact on residents and review local traffic flow and access. 

The work will consist of minor internal adaptation to the building and is due to start during summer 2026, subject to approval of the project plans. 

The Lime Trust is carrying out a consultation on the proposals, open until 26 February, and is seeking input from affected residents.

Cllr Kizzy Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:

Parents often tell us that children thrive when they are educated close to home in the local communities that know and love them. We are delighted to be able to open this site up to families of children with SEND and expand our school network to include 100 additional SEND places. These families will have the comfort of knowing their child is being educated nearby. 

There has been an unprecedented increase in numbers of children with SEND over recent years. This new school, led by experienced partners at the Lime Trust, will mean more children can be educated in their community. It helps support our mission to ensure every family has every opportunity in Waltham Forest.