Explore the Loft at Guildford County School
‘The Loft’ at Guildford County School will initially welcome 10 new students into the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) teaching unit for autistic children in September 2025.
This new autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Communication Interaction Unit is part of ßÙßÇÂþ»’s SEND Capital Programme. We have invested £3.3 million to create the unit alongside additional English and science classrooms, a new stair tower and courtyard.
The Loft
The 25-place expansion has been provided within the school's existing site footprint and the Loft will initially welcome its first cohort of ten students this September. The number of pupils joining the Loft will continue to increase each year until it reaches capacity at 25 students.
Pupils at the Loft will have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) specifying Guildford County School as an appropriate placement to meet their individual needs.
The facility has been designed to provide a combination of teaching spaces, quiet areas and shared workspaces. There are also staff facilities, small group areas and a space for practical work. The pitch of the roof to the courtyard side has been removed to create a dormer roof and access corridor below.
Councillor Clare Curran, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said, “We are delighted that students at Guildford County School can now benefit from this fantastic new facility. As a council, we are committed to increasing provision in mainstream school settings for children with additional needs and disabilities. We want to ensure that local children with additional needs and disabilities have access to high-quality education close to home, feel a strong sense of belonging, achieve better outcomes, and are well supported in their journey into adulthood.”
Background
This project is part of our SEND Capital Programme. We are investing over £211 million to improve and expand education facilities across ßÙßÇÂþ» for children with additional needs and disabilities. Our SEND Capital Programme works will increase the number of locally available maintained specialist school places from approximately 3,700 to up to 5,760 by 2030.
These additional places, and the projects that are delivering them, are a crucial part of ßÙßÇÂþ»'s Inclusion and Additional Needs Strategy. The strategy aims to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with additional needs and disabilities in ßÙßÇÂþ», ensuring they can access the best possible education closer to home.
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