York school set for £1.5 million upgrade

Learning facilities at a York school could be significantly improved if City of York Council’s Executive approve plans for a £1.5m refit later this month.

Clifton Green Primary School serves one of the most deprived wards in the city and has a higher proportion of children with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) and children who speak English as an additional language.

It is facing an increasing number of significant challenges that exacerbate its ability to help pupils due to teaching and intervention areas that are inaccessible, cannot be used or are incorrectly located around the school building

The proposals recommend re-organising internal rooms and spaces and erecting new fencing to make the school’s outdoor areas more useable and secure, improving the safety of pupils.

The changes should mean the rooms and spaces are suitable and sufficient to meet the needs of children.

That would reduce the number of pupils that need to access other specialist provision around the city, providing more suitable provision in mainstream settings for neurodiverse children and for those with SEMH.

Cllr Andrew Waller, City of York Council’s executive member for children, young people and education, said: “The council is working to ensure that all pupils across the city receive the best start so that they can reach their full potential.

“These proposals form part of targeted support in areas where there is the greatest challenge, together with opportunities to make an early intervention. “

If approved, work would be carried out over two summers to reduce the disruption to pupils and staff.