We’re excited to be attending the NNoSS Annual Conference 2025 as proud Commercial Partners of the National Network of Special Schools. This event is the ideal networking place for the special school community as an invaluable space for connection, collaboration, and innovation. As always, we’re especially looking forward to catching up with many of our existing clients who will be attending and of course, meeting new faces who are tackling the same challenges across the sector.
The NNoSS Conference is all about creating better outcomes for children and young people in SEND schools and one of the biggest obstacles schools currently face is navigating the growing capacity crisis.
Helping You Navigate the Capacity Challenge
The recent introduction of the Department for Education’s Net Capacity Assessment (NCA) tool marks a major shift for the special school landscape. For the first time, a standardised capacity figure will be applied to schools, designed to provide transparency and consistency across local authorities, trusts, and schools.
But while the intent is clear, the implications can be complex and key questions are already emerging:
- Can your school safely accommodate more pupils?
- Could the new figures trigger disruptive building projects or even forced relocations?
- Is the NCA truly representative of how your school operates day-to-day?
It’s important to understand that the NCA will influence future funding and strategic planning decisions, which means it’s more essential than ever to ensure your capacity data tells the full story of your school.
At Building Spatial Intelligence, we go beyond the numbers. Using BB104 guidance, net capacity benchmarks, and actual room use data, we help schools get a complete and accurate picture of their capacity. However, our work doesn’t stop at reporting. We help schools understand, navigate, and challenge discrepancies in the NCA so that any decision made reflects the real-world context of your provision.
A reactive approach to this shift could leave schools at risk of being overwhelmed by bureaucratic errors. A proactive, informed strategy backed by independent data can make all the difference.
With over 20 years’ of experience working with special schools nationwide, we’re proud to be the only commercial partner offering independent, expert-led capacity data specifically for this sector.
Come and Speak to Us at the Conference
If you’re attending NNoSS 2025, come and find us at our stand. Whether you want to chat about how BB104 impacts your layout, explore your options around the NCA, or simply ask questions about what this all means for your school, we’d love to help. We’re always up for a chat, and we’re here to support you in getting clarity, control, and confidence over your school’s capacity.
Don’t forget to #AskforTerry when you visit our stand for one of our famous chocolate oranges!
