New SEMH primary school giving pupils a place to ‘feel supported, understood and able to learn'
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Pupils at Central Bedfordshire’s newest specialist primary school are now benefiting from a calm, supportive learning environment following the school’s opening.
A ribbon‑cutting ceremony and tour took place to mark the opening and success of the Larwood School satellite site on Beech Road, Dunstable. It is an interim setting, while refurbishment works are carried out at the long-term home for the school, on the former Pulloxhill Lower School site, a council-owned asset well-suited to educational use.
The new school places are expected improve outcomes for children and families, while reducing transport costs and saving us between £1.24 million and £2.6 million annually, compared to the cost of independent placements.
Designed to meet pupils’ individual social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, the school provides small class sizes, carefully planned spaces and a nurturing setting that helps children feel safe, understood and ready to learn. For many pupils, this means shorter journeys, greater routine, and being educated closer to their families and communities.
One pupil, Olivia, said:
This school is way better than my old school. It is fun and I have lots of friends.
While William said:
I am doing really well. I enjoy coming to school now.
Elijah added:
I am happy here because it is fun.
Nanku said:
I like the school, everything is good.
And Stanley added:
I like this school because every Friday we have activities.
The school has been created by repurposing a previously empty school building, allowing us to respond quickly to urgent demand for SEMH provision and ensure children were able to access specialist places without delay.
After cutting the ribbon at the new school, Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Families and Children, said:
What matters most is the difference this school is already making to pupils’ lives. Children now have a place where they feel supported, understood and able to learn in a way that works for them, which outlines our commitment to addressing quality local provision, closer to where people live.
By acting quickly and bringing an empty school building back into use, we’ve been able to create a high‑quality SEMH setting at pace and giving families reassurance that the right support is in place.
The school operates as a satellite of Larwood School and is run by Brighter Futures Educational Trust. It reflects our child‑first approach to SEND reform, expanding local provision so children can access high‑quality support close to home, improve their outcomes, and avoid unnecessary long journeys or placement away from their communities.
Pierre van der Merwe, Executive Headteacher at Brighter Futures Educational Trust, said:
We are incredibly proud of our staff and pupils, who together have created a positive, supportive and purposeful environment where children can have meaningful and successful experiences of education.
Our staff are dedicated, professional and unwavering in keeping pupils at the forefront of everything they do. As a Trust, we are delighted to be working in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council and see this as the beginning of a strong and effective relationship. This partnership will create further opportunities to provide high-quality placements for pupils, meeting their needs and setting them up for future success.
We will continue to work with schools, trusts and families to ensure children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can access the right provision, in the right place, at the right time.