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York Theatre Royal

Plan for new autism school boosted by ‘significant support’

Wed 16 Aug 2023 @ 11:44am - News
David Dunning

Woodfield School - Image @NorthYorksc

Plans for a new multi-million pound school for children with autism will help to provide much-needed support amid growing demand for specialist education.

The new £3.5 million development is planned for the site of the former Woodfield Community Primary School in Harrogate, and the proposals will be considered at a meeting next week.

The primary school closed at the end of December after years of falling pupil numbers and an “inadequate” rating by Ofsted.

Members of the North Yorkshire Council Executive will meet on Tuesday next week (22 August) to discuss potentially upgrading the site, enabling it to cater for up to 80 pupils with autism aged between 11 and 19.

A six-week consultation from 12 June to 24 July clearly reflected “significant support” for the new school with 90 out of the 105 responses – a total of 86 per cent – highlighting the need for additional autism provision in North Yorkshire.

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Those in support also commented that the site would be “ideal” for providing a safe learning environment, while others said the special school is not only “absolutely necessary” for the children and the whole community, but would provide vital jobs for people with specialist experience and opportunities for career growth for others.

Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “I’m pleased with the positive response we’ve received from the consultation.

“The new facility would help meet a rising demand for special school places in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and the surrounding area.

“Currently there are 432 children with the primary need of autism accessing existing North Yorkshire special schools and we are committed to providing further support.”

The consultation came as children and young people in the county with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) are set to benefit from a £20 million investment, which includes the creation of new places in Special Schools and mainstream special educational needs Resource Bases.

Since 2016, the number of children and young people with identified special education needs and disabilities and an education, health and care plan (EHCP) has increased by over 110 per cent in North Yorkshire.

The target opening date for the school is September next year.

There are no planned changes to the community library and children’s centre on the same site.

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Wed 16 Aug, 2023

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