Published: 26 February 2026
We are pleased to share some exciting news about a proposed development at Admiral Lord Nelson School (ALNS). As a school committed to inclusion, equity and meeting the needs of all learners, the proposal is to establish a new Inclusion Centre focused on supporting students with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
The school, with the support of the Local Authority and Salterns Academy Trust is proposing to create up to 20 specialist ASC places (over 5 years, with the centre opening with 8 places initially) within a purpose-designed Inclusion Centre on the existing school site. The Centre would provide a highly supportive, structured, and autism-friendly environment that enables pupils to access personalised learning, while remaining part of the school community. The Inclusion Centre would include specialist facilities, sensory spaces, and dedicated staff trained in supporting autistic learners. It will be designed to complement—not replace—the school’s mainstream provision.
There is a growing need for local specialist provision and spaces for children and young people with ASC. Many families currently face challenges accessing appropriate support locally. Creating an Inclusion Centre at ALNS would help meet this need, reduce pressure on specialist placements, and ensure that more children can be supported within their community. The preference both locally and nationally is for students to attend specialist provision at an Inclusion Centre and still be able to access all the benefits of a mainstream inclusive education. Having an ASC Inclusion Centre at ALNS will mean that the resources and staff expertise will be available on site to support other students from the school population who have ASC, and all staff will benefit from further training in meeting these needs.
As this is a significant change to the school’s provision, the Department for Education requires the school to undertake a public consultation. Your views are essential in helping the School, Trust and Local Authority shape the proposal and ensure it meets the needs of children, families and the wider community.
You can share your views by either:
- Online survey: Consultation: Inclusion Centre for Pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
- Email: [email protected]
The consultation will run for 3 weeks, from 23 February 2026 to 13 March 2026.
Following the consultation, the school will publish a summary of the responses and how they have been considered. The Trust Board will then decide whether to proceed with a formal application to the Department for Education. Any final decision will take account of community views, Local Authority input, educational need, and the best interests of pupils.