Kedleston Group, which currently operates 12 specialist schools and children’s homes across England, is set to open its 13th provision, Mill School Bury, later this year.
Mill School Bury, in the town’s Wellington Street, will provide a purpose-built and state-of-the-art learning environment for children and young people with autism and social, emotional and mental health difficulties, supporting up to 70 children across Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 and its opening will create around 50 teaching and support roles. It will offer places to children and young people across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
The latest detailed plans for the school show just how the bespoke designed school will feature a range of spaces specially created to support children with additional or complex educational or support needs including a Rebound Room, Sensory room, Quiet Place and Immersive technology rooms.
These are state-of-the-art rooms which offer specific environments to support children’s individual needs and help them get ready to learn, work through anxieties and feel safe.
The Rebound Therapy Room will feature a trampoline where children can experience a wide variety of movement and work on individual therapeutic objectives including managing stress, anxiety, social and communication development. The school will also offer a rich therapy and sensory diet for each child, dependent on their needs.
Outside, alongside a Forest School, horticulture, vocational learning and other outdoor educational spaces will be fantastic sports and play areas for the children to enjoy.
Head teacher Shazia Sarwar-Azim said: “Our purpose-built state-of-the-art school will provide a safe, nurturing and supportive place for children to engage with education. Many of the children we will support at Mill School Bury will have been out of education for some time because of the difficulties they experienced in mainstream or other settings.
“Our intention is to create a bespoke school environment where a personalised curriculum, specifically designed to meet the holistic needs of children, will motivate them in learning and life. We passionately believe our school will help children re-engage with learning and prepare them for a future full of opportunities. It’s so exciting to see the blueprints of the school being bought to life.”
Due to open early in the 2020 Summer term, assessments for places are available.