A new state-of-the-art school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has reached its latest milestone.

Nottinghamshire county councillors and partners gathered at the Mansfield site to mark the completion of the building’s main structure, with a roof also in place.

Horizons Academy, which is to be run by Diverse Academies Trust, will have capacity for up to 160 pupils, aged seven to 19.

Due to open by spring term 2026, it will provide a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

The academy is being constructed on the former Ravensdale School site in Mansfield.

The £30m project is part of a wider programme being delivered by the council to create up to 490 additional SEND school places by 2026 to help address a growing demand.

Council leader Coun Sam Smith said: “We are committed to meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND, and their families, and to providing much-needed special school places in Nottinghamshire. It is vital we invest in our future generations.”

David Cotton, Diverse Academies Trust chief executive, said it was incredible to see how far the building works have progressed.

“Horizons is truly on track to deliver an exceptional learning environment for young people in the local community with special educational needs,” he added.

The school is being designed, and project and cost managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between the council and SCAPE, with construction being undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction.

Sara Williams, deputy managing director at Arc Partnership, said: “Horizons Academy is a special project for us. Particular attention has been given to how the design supports the particular needs of these young people, considering their movement around school and accommodating sensory zones and calm spaces to better support the pupils.”