New school facility completed for children with special educational needs

A bespoke SRP was created at Charville Academy, offering group and therapy rooms, classrooms and a welcome space. It will initially provide an additional eight students with autistic spectrum conditions with support, before doubling to 16 in September.  

Headteacher Nicola Kelly,  said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Charville Academy to support the local authority's plans and commitment to enhance provision for children in Hillingdon to receive specialist education in a bespoke, purpose-built setting within our school.   

"The specialist provision will provide direct access to mainstream education opportunities as well as needs based targeted support in small groups. It is designed so that all our children develop the life skills they need to thrive in the 21st Century."  

Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Cllr Susan O'Brien, visited the new facilities  on Wednesday 13 November alongside the council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, Cllr Jonathan Bianco, to mark its official opening.   

She said: "Real progress is being made to meet demand for specialist provision in our schools through this building programme, and these are key examples of where we've reviewed how areas in our schools are used and how they can be adapted to address the increasing demand for places and provide opportunities for young people with specific needs to learn alongside other pupils in a mainstream setting.  

"We are committed to creating thriving, healthy households and ensuring that every child in Hillingdon has access to a school place, including children with additional needs."  

Work on another SRP is nearing completion at Ruislip Gardens Primary School to initially support 12 primary-aged children with autistic spectrum conditions. The council is also creating an early years assessment centre at the school which will offer a further 16 places to nursery-aged children who require SEND provision. The two-floor building includes group therapy and sensory rooms, classrooms and a kitchen.  

Works are also underway at Meadow High School in Uxbridge. The council is expanding this school in two phases, creating a satellite school in Harefield with 90 extra places and building a new classroom block at the existing site. This will provide eight new places and reprovide 82.  

For information and advice for children and young people with SEND, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/send-local-offer.