2. Overview 2.1 We are committed to an ambitious free schools programme that delivers innovation, choice and higher standards for parents. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities are more likely than others to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and are amongst the most likely to be unemployed once they finish school. Local authorities need to have a broad range of provision to meet the special educational needs of children and young people in their area so that, regardless of individuals’ needs, they all have an opportunity to make good progress. Developing new special free schools will contribute to this by better enabling local areas to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. 2.2 On 12 2017, we announced the approval of 131 new free schools, including approval of plans to launch special free school competitions in Bedford, Blackpool, Bradford, Cheshire East, Croydon, Doncaster, Enfield, Essex, Hampshire, Havering, Herefordshire, Hounslow, Manchester, Portsmouth, Redbridge, Sheffield, South Gloucestershire, Suffolk and Sunderland. This guidance is for anyone wishing to apply to set up a special free school in these parts of the country. How to submit an application 2.3 Applicants must register their interest to open a free school ahead of submitting their application. The pre-registration form can be found on either the local authority or the Department for Education webpage. 2.4 Completed applications can be submitted at anytime, but must be submitted by midday on 24 November 2017. You need to submit one copy of your application by email to: the relevant local authority (email address in the LA submission on LA webpage) and one to . The Local Authority cannot grant a deadline extension. 2.5 The size of your email should not exceed 9MB as anything larger will not be delivered. If the application is larger than 9MB, please split the documents and send 2 (or more) emails. Please your email as follows: Special free school application [insert free school – name]. In addition, send one hard copy by a guaranteed delivery method (applications may be hand delivered) to: the at the address given in the relevant specification; and local authority two hard copies to:
2. Overview 2.1 We are committed to an ambitious free schools programme that delivers innovation, choice and higher standards for parents. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities are more likely than others to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and are amongst the most likely to be unemployed once they finish school. Local authorities need to have a broad range of provision to meet the special educational needs of children and young people in their area so that, regardless of individuals’ needs, they all have an opportunity to make good progress. Developing new special free schools will contribute to this by better enabling local areas to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. 2.2 On 12 2017, we announced the approval of 131 new free schools, including approval of plans to launch special free school competitions in Bedford, Blackpool, Bradford, Cheshire East, Croydon, Doncaster, Enfield, Essex, Hampshire, Havering, Herefordshire, Hounslow, Manchester, Portsmouth, Redbridge, Sheffield, South Gloucestershire, Suffolk and Sunderland. This guidance is for anyone wishing to apply to set up a special free school in these parts of the country. How to submit an application 2.3 Applicants must register their interest to open a free school ahead of submitting their application. The pre-registration form can be found on either the local authority or the Department for Education webpage. 2.4 Completed applications can be submitted at anytime, but must be submitted by midday on 24 November 2017. You need to submit one copy of your application by email to: the relevant local authority (email address in the LA submission on LA webpage) and one to . The Local Authority cannot grant a deadline extension. 2.5 The size of your email should not exceed 9MB as anything larger will not be delivered. If the application is larger than 9MB, please split the documents and send 2 (or more) emails. Please your email as follows: Special free school application – [insert free school name]. In addition, send one hard copy by a guaranteed delivery method (applications may be hand delivered) to: the local authority at the address given in the relevant specification; and two hard copies to:
special%20free%20schools%20application%20and%20criteria_0.docx