School organisation and place planning

Find out about school place planning and have your say in school consultations

Consultations and statutory proposals

To meet the demand for school places, we may need to build new schools or make changes to existing schools. You can find out about these proposals here.

Proposed expansion of Harlow Fields Special School

We are consulting on a proposal to expand Harlow Fields special school and increase its capacity from 175 places to 238 places, with effect from 1 January 2026.

The consultation is open from 16 June 2025 to 14 July 2025.

Read the consultation document for Harlow Fields Special School (PDF, 186.11 KB).

Have your say

You can contact us by:
- completing our online form for Harlow Fields Special School
- email: school.organisation@essex.gov.uk 
- post: SEND Strategy and Innovation, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH

Proposed expansion of Shorefields SEND School

We are consulting on a proposal to expand Shorefields SEND School through the provision of a new teaching block, with effect from 1 January 2026.

The consultation is open from 16 June 2025 to 14 July 2025.

Read the consultation document for Shorefields SEND School (PDF, 128.28 KB).

Have your say

You can contact us by:
- completing our online form for Shorefields SEND School
- email: school.organisation@essex.gov.uk 
- post: SEND Strategy and Innovation, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH

Proposed creation of Additional Resource Provision (ARP) at Hazelmere Infant School

We are consulting on a proposal to create an Additional Resource Provision (ARP) for children with severe learning difficulties (SLD) at Hazelmere Infant School in Colchester, with effect from 1 January 2026.

The consultation is open from 16 June 2025 to 14 July 2025.

Read the consultation document for Hazelmere Infant School (PDF, 140.1 KB).

Have your say

You can contact us by:
- completing our online form for Hazelmere Infant School 
- email: school.organisation@essex.gov.uk 
- post: SEND Strategy and Innovation, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH

Proposed creation of Additional Resource Provision (ARP) at St Michael’s Primary School

We are consulting on a proposal to create an Additional Resource Provision (ARP) for children with severe learning difficulties (SLD) at St Michael’s Primary School in Colchester, with effect from 1 January 2026.

The consultation is open from 16 June 2025 to 14 July 2025.

Read the consultation document for St Michael’s Primary School (PDF, 129.85 KB).

Have your say

You can contact us by:
- completing our online form for St Michael’s Primary School
- email: school.organisation@essex.gov.uk 
- post: SEND Strategy and Innovation, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH