New special needs centre planned for Ellesmere school

The Special Educational Needs (SEN) hub at Lakelands Academy in Ellesmere will be able to accommodate up to 24 children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

The scheme has been put forward because Shropshire currently has very limited specialist teaching provision to support pupils with autistic difficulties.

Shropshire Council has submitted a planning application for the centre, which will feature four teaching areas and multimedia, therapy and meeting rooms.

Construction is due to start by July and be completed by the end of December. The first pupils are expected to be enrolled by January next year.

Headteacher Ian Sanders said: "Lakelands has been chosen as the host site for an exciting new development in respect of the local authority provision for students with specific learning needs.

"The new purpose-built facility will be the first of its kind in Shropshire, accommodating students on the autistic spectrum from across the county.

"Although the new facility will be physically attached to the rest of the site, it will be completely self-contained, including the staffing arrangements.

"The unique feature of this development is that it will allow students, with support, to enter into 'mainstream' lessons if it is appropriate.

"The benefits to the parents of students with this condition are that their child will have the opportunity to integrate with other children of their own age group in a 'mainstream' setting."

In a document submitted in support of the application, Shropshire Council says: "Shropshire currently has very limited specialist teaching provision to support pupils with autistic difficulties and it is an area of special needs with significantly increasing numbers.

"Currently, these children often have to be placed out of county or travel considerable distances to access suitable provision.

"Secondary schools were invited to express their interest in hosting a specialist hub and Lakelands Academy was selected.

"It has an excellent record of supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs and senior leaders, staff and governors showed great enthusiasm for the project.

"It is hoped that this model of hub support will be replicated in other locations within the county thus enabling Shropshire to offer more."

The document adds: "Internally, the hub will essentially comprise of four teaching areas, accessed from a central communal space.

"Apart from the classroom, there will be ancillary accommodation such as a multimedia room and therapy room along with an office, meeting room, toilets and storage."

It is not yet known how much the project will cost.