Rochford special needs school at risk of closure
Omnia Foundation could close if it does not find another location
A “niche” special needs school claims it is at risk of closure, with serious concerns being raised about the future of its students.
Omnia Foundation, based at Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club, off London Road, Rayleigh, could close if it does not find an alternative location.
The school leaders say it is at risk of closure as the site is not suitable and the lease is due to run out in two years. The land and site is owned by Rochford Council, but it is sublet to the school by the club, which says no discussion has taken place between them and the school about the lease.
The school costs £97,000 a year per child and it takes children from the whole of Essex. It is also approved by the Department of Education as a school, and Ofsted regulated.
Plans are being drawn up for 360 homes, a new school for Omnia Foundation and other amenities, off Shoebury Road in Great Wakering, and the school leaders are hoping this is given the go ahead to give the school a new home.
David Kreyling, proprietor of the school, said: “Our school roll is for 30 children but we can only currently take 22, because of the facility that we are in. We went for planning permission with Rochford Council and it’ll be three years in October. We recieved full development committee approval from every single development committee member but we’re still in portcabins and they won’t let us develop into a new school.
“We can’t be in temporary accommodation, we need accommodation that suits the needs of our children, we effectively have a waiting list really, we can’t take the kids, we’re full up. We can’t have any more planned development so for the last two or three years we’ve been looking to work with the local community and what’s needed around Essex to build a home and speaking with developers.
“The accommodation we have is literally in construction portacabins, and we take the highest special educational needs and disabilities children from a social, emotional and mental health perspective. It will be devastating if the Friends Farm development is not built and the section 106 element is not given to the school, plus the community facilities, because we will have to close.”
Ian Budge, executive director of the school fears the impact on the students if they have to travel far for their specialist education. He added: “If it closes or we can’t find suitable provision in the county, the local authorities are going to have to pay for those young people to travel out of the county or significant distance for their provision. From the young people’s perspective, being in a car, being taxied to your school, it could be an hour and a half away, isn’t a great way to start your morning especially for our students, especially having autism or asperger’s syndrome, that in itself can just knock all the edges off of the start to their day”
Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club says there have not been any conversations between the club and the school about the lease. Gary Brooks, chairman of Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club and Rayleigh Town Football Club said: “The school is a sub-tenant of Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club and Rayleigh Town Football Club. The school currently holds a three-year sub-lease, which was signed in April 2025 and backdated to commence from August 2024, coinciding with the start of the academic year.
“There has been no communication from the school regarding any intention to terminate and or extend the lease. Furthermore, there have been no recent discussions between Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club and Rayleigh Town Football Club and Rochford Council concerning the future of the site or any proposed changes.”
A spokesman for Rochford Council said: “The land in question is owned by Rochford Council and leased to Rayleigh Town Sports and Social Club, who in turn sublet to Omnia Foundation. As we are not Omnia’s direct landlords, we cannot comment on the terms of their lease with the Sports and Social Club.
“The council has not made any decision to sell the site and the planning permission granted in 2022 was to regularise the use of the existing portacabins on the site, as the school previously did not have formal planning consent. This approval related to the current structures and not to any new building proposals.”