Update on New Primary Provision at Ivy House School

Ivy House School has been allocated £1.7 million in funding from Derby City Local Authority to support an important development on our school site. This project will create 26 additional primary-aged places as part of our ongoing commitment to expand specialist SEND education locally. 

The proposal was formally approved by Derby City Council Cabinet on 7th January 2026, and we are awaiting completion of the mandatory seven-day cooling-off period before the project can officially proceed. This is why the information is being shared now, directly with our school community. 

We are working closely with the Derby City SEND Team to prepare further communications for both current families and those who are considering future placements. 

Why This Matters

Demand for specialist primary provision for pupils with SEND in Derby has increased significantly in recent years. At present, there is only one other SEND school in the city that offers dedicated primary places, and many mainstream schools operate Enhanced Resource Bases to meet needs. Our new provision will help address this local need, support families in accessing education closer to home, and relieve pressure across the wider city SEND system. 

Proposed New Building Features

The refurbished building will include a range of facilities designed to support learning, development and wellbeing for primary pupils:

  • Four classrooms, each with a small multi-use room
  • Dedicated toileting facilities for each classroom
  • A sensory integration room to support regulation and readiness for learning
  • A soft play room to develop gross motor skills
  • A kitchen space to support independence and life skills development
  • Two outdoor playground areas
  • Additional car parking spaces to support increased staffing levels

These enhancements will ensure a high-quality learning environment tailored specifically to the needs of younger pupils. 

Project Timeline and Next Steps

The building is currently in use by Derby Moor Academy. Derby City Local Authority and the school are working collaboratively to manage a planned transition, allowing sufficient time for the building to be vacated ahead of refurbishment. 

Once the facility has been refurbished, we plan to relocate a small number of pupils from our main building into the new primary provision. This will allow us to optimise our use of space across the wider school site, maintaining excellent learning environments for all pupils. 

Construction work will take place entirely within a secure, fenced area separate from the main school building, ensuring that student safety and continuity of education remain our highest priorities. 

Keeping You Informed

We will share architectural drawings and further updates as they become available. There are no immediate changes to staffing, class groupings or daily routines at this stage. Our priorities continue to be safeguarding, wellbeing and the quality of education for current students. 

If you have any questions about the new primary provision, please contact the school office.