Work underway on new £13.2million school building in Alfreton

The building for Alfreton Park Community Special School has been co-ordinated and paid for by Derbyshire County Council.

A new single-storey £13.2m school is being built next to Alfreton Park and will replace out-of-date and unsuitable buildings.

There are 90 students at the school, with a range of learning difficulties, aged between two and 19 years old.

Around half of the students are on the autistic spectrum and the school also supports pupils with additional needs.

The new school will have 12 classrooms, six group rooms including specialist therapy rooms and soft play areas, and a combined hall and dining area and will have space for 100 students.

Work is due to be finished by the end of 2021, with the school open early in 2022.

The site of the new school is on land previously owned by Amber Valley Borough Council, who have given the land to Derbyshire County Council in return for land in Heanor.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for young people, councillor Alex Dale, said: “I’m so pleased that work has started on what will be a fantastic new home for the school.

“The current building is just not fit for purpose but the new one will really give these students the best possible start in life.

“I’d like to thank Amber Valley Borough Council who have helped out by providing the land for the new building in return for the council giving them some land in Heanor.

"This is much appreciated as without this land it would have been very difficult to provide the new building.”

Cheryl Smart, who has been Headteacher at Alfreton Park Community Special School for seven years, said: “The pupils and staff are really excited to see the works begin.

"We have all been working on the plans for some time and look forward to seeing the new school grow.

“The new building will give so many more opportunities and the space we need so desperately.”