Consultation launched on proposed specialist provision at Cleobury Mortimer school

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Thursday, 14 January 2021 10:18

By Keri Trigg - Local Democracy Reporter

A secondary school has revealed plans to create a new specialist provision for up to 20 pupils with additional needs.

Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer says the facility could welcome learners as soon as this September, subject to any necessary building works.

It would be open to pupils aged 11 to 16 with moderate learning difficulties and communication and interaction difficulties, including autism spectrum conditions.

A four-week consultation is open now for people to share their views before a final decision is made on whether to progress with the proposals.

The consultation document says: “Lacon Childe School, part of the Shropshire Gateway Educational Trust, is delighted to be engaging with Shropshire Local Authority to develop a specialist provision in the local area for children with specialist needs.

“Lacon Childe is more than just a school and, with the staff experience and expertise we have, we are ideally placed to expand our current provision extending the excellent education already offered to all of our pupils including those with additional learning needs.

“As a trust we believe that every child should have access to the best education to equip them with confidence and skills needed to enhance their wellbeing.

“The trust is a caring community which believes that every learner matters. We strive to be the best at ensuring every child has access to quality learning in their local community.

“Having established the school’s willingness to participate in the project, this consultation document is about turning the school’s commitment from a vision into a reality.”

Shropshire Council commissioned a review of its additional needs provision in 2017, which found “gaps for learners who are academically able to access some aspects of the national curriculum but who may struggle with some of the environmental and/or social aspects of mainstream school life”, the report from the trust says.

The study recommended that specialist provision attached to mainstream schools be prioritised, either as ‘resourced provision, which is mainstream school led, or special school led but based on mainstream school sites, known as ‘satellite provision’.

The report adds: “All schools were approached by the local authority some time ago and asked if they would consider hosting a resourced provision. Mr Darren Reynolds, headteacher of Lacon Childe School, expressed an interest in this provision.”

Anyone wishing to respond to the consultation can do so via Shropshire Council’s website or by writing to or emailing the school. The consultation closes on February 7.

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