Pupils are being welcomed in two phases, with the first 12 children having joined the Deptford school after the May 2026 half term
A South London council is opening a new special educational needs (SEN) unit for children with severe learning difficulties (SLD) at a local primary school.
The 40-place SEN unit at Deptford Park Primary School in Lewisham is welcoming pupils in two phases, with the first 12 children joining the school after the May 2026 half term, which ended on Monday, June 1.
The second cohort of pupils will join in September 2026.
The Mayor of Lewisham, Liam Shrivastava, and his Cabinet are expected to hear updates on the new SEN provision at a meeting on Wednesday (June 10). Council officers will provide Mayor Shrivastava and his Cabinet updates on the outcome of a consultation which was carried out earlier this year as well the implementation of the new SEN unit.
Part of Deptford Park Primary School has been adapted and refurbished to make way for the new SEN unit, which will cater for up to 40 pupils across four to five classrooms. The school has also helped to fund the new unit.
A Cabinet report said the new unit will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of children and their families within the borough.
Additionally, it will reduce the amount of travel children have to endure for appropriate provision, while ensuring children are educated closer to home which will help build networks around where they live.
A parent of a Year 2 child who has a placement at the new unit said: “This is amazing news, you have saved my child’s education and I am so happy, we all are.”
A parent of a child in Reception who is attending an independent specialist school, said: “This is the long-term security, with consistent, knowledgeable staff that my daughter needs.”
According to the Cabinet report, the borough has seen an increase in young learners with significant needs joining mainstream schools. They often have significant needs relating to cognition and learning, communication and interaction.
The report stated: “Our schools are of course supporting these children in their community but cannot always meet needs in a busy mainstream environment.
“Creating an SLD Unit within a mainstream school in the north west of the borough ensures that these young learners can still attend a mainstream school, whilst having access to a highly specialised learning environment, catering for their specific needs. It would also provide parents/carers with more choice and control.”
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