Former nurses’ home could be turned into new SEN school

The school could accommodate up to 72 pupils and have 12 classrooms07:00, 02 Jul 2026Updated 07:12, 02 Jul 2026Part of the former Queen Mary’s Nurses Home in Church Lane, Papworth Everard (stock)(Image: Google)A former nurses’ home could be turned into a new school for over 70 pupils. Outcomes First Group has proposed to turn the former Queen Mary’s Nurses Home in Church Lane, Papworth Everard into a SEN school.The nurses’ accommodation was used for staff at Royal Papworth Hospital. The applicants, which are a national provider for purpose-designed SEN schools, seek to change it into a new school for up to 72 pupils.The school would cater for children who have autistic spectrum conditions (ASC), complex needs and learning disabilities. The application said: “Whilst the site is likely to be registered with Ofsted for up to 72 pupils, in practice the school would not have all pupils on the site at any one time, as pupils would also engage in off-site activities and learning and some would not attend on a five-day a week basis.“In addition, the school would gradually build to its full quota of students over a two-year period. It is anticipated that the number of staff on site at the school at any one time would be in the order of 40.”If approved, the school would have up to 12 classrooms, breakout rooms, dining facilities, staff areas, kitchen, reception and a medical room. Pupils would be educated in small groups and by specialist teachers.Another big part of the plans is a change of the garden into a multi-use games area and play space for “recreation and education purposes”. The school will be open from 8am until 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays. Staff would be there for longer between 7am and 6pm. Parking has also been considered in the plans.The applicant added: “It is proposed to retain the existing areas of hardstanding on site with some adaptation to meet car parking and access requirements. Parking and manoeuvring space will be regularised as shown on the submitted plans and will include the widening of the access off Church Lane and provision of a one-way system to facilitate drop-off and pick-up of pupils.“Electric vehicle charging points will be provided within the car park along with parking for mini-buses.”