Proposed enlargement of Green Fold Special School (BL4 0NS) - Consultations

Bolton Council is proposing to enlarge and increase the current capacity of Green Fold Special School in order to permanently expand the pupil places at the school from 130 to 185 places with effect from the 1st September 2025.

Green Fold is a popular and outstanding local authority community special school that provides education and support for children aged 4-11 year old, who have a range of special needs.

The school operates across two main sites, at the Upper and Lower Orchards, both of which are located off Highfield Road, Farnworth.  In addition, due to the high demand for places at the school, it presently operates out of two satellite locations at the former Little Lever Children’s Centre and from the former Alexandra Nursery building located on Martha Street, Daubhill, Bolton.

The proposed expansion of Green Fold special School will help to meet the identified rise in demand for places and provide increased opportunities for children with special educational needs within Bolton.

How the proposal will be implemented

If approved, it is proposed that the school will permanently increase its pupil capacity from 1st September 2025.  It is proposed that the enlargement of the school will be achieved by:

• Internal remodelling and extending the two buildings at the current Upper and Lower Orchards sites.
• Construction of an Early Years unit at the Upper Orchards site to accommodate Cherry Tree reception classes and the Orchards Nursery which will be relocated from the Lower Orchards site to facilitate its remodelling and extension for Green Fold Pupils.
• Reformation of existing external space including the provision of a new MUGA on each site for recreation and physical education.
• Retention of one of the satellite facilities to continue to provide accommodation for up to 24 pupils as part of the overall solution

Impact of the proposal on SEND education in Bolton

The proposed enlargement of Green Fold special school is part of a wider Bolton Council strategy to increase special school capacity within the borough, to respond to identified rising demand from Bolton families for local school places for their children.  The programme has been welcomed by the Department for Education, who are supporting its delivery with additional SEND Safety Valve funding. 

For further information please view the statutory proposal and statutory notice.

This consultation has now closed.

Anyone may object to or make comment on the proposal by emailing the Consultation and Research Team at consultation@bolton.gov.uk with the subject line as ‘Statutory Consultation – Green Fold’.

Alternatively you can write to:

Freepost RTTT-YTEL-YSXS

Consultation & Research Team

2nd Floor,

Town Hall,

Victoria Square,

Bolton BL1 1RU.