A West Derby special educational needs school is hoping to expand its sixth form site to meet pupil place demand.
As the amount of young people with special education needs (SEN) across the city continues to increase, Sandfield Park School is seeking to create an extension on its sixth form building to ensure it can accommodate the rising number of students. A planning application has been lodged by the school with Liverpool Council.
According to the documents made available by the local authority, Sandfield Park and its sixth form have a significant number of wheelchair users. The report added: “Many wheelchairs are motorised and larger than standard, plus some mobile beds for severe physical disabilities are in use in the area.
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“The school's governors and senior management team have noted both the rise in SEN pupils at the site and the amount of care required for these pupils with greater learning difficulties and greater physical disabilities.” The application by the school is the second after a previous plan in July 2021 was rejected owing to the potential removal of two mature trees.
The revised proposal will not affect the two trees in question. The report added how the proposal is to dismantle a concrete sectional garage and dispose of it off-site.
A new single storey extension of 66m would be constructed. The document, put together by Anthony Shipley Building Consultancy on behalf of the school, said: “The proposal is to ensure accessibility is maintained at the highest levels.
“As an SEN School with a significant number of physically disabled students; accessibility is always of the very highest priority. Accessibility is considered prior to any decision about site improvements, curriculum changes, parental access and changes in the local needs.”
The school is situated just off Queens Drive, Stoneycroft, close to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. It was officially opened in 1961 by Group Captain Douglas Bader.
Pupils are taught in small class groups which enables them to receive the individual attention that they require. Each class group has at least one classroom assistant attached to them.
In September 2003, Alder Hey Hospital School became part of Sandfield Park School and the school also became responsible for Home Teaching for children unable to return to their own school for medical reasons. A date for the application to be considered by Liverpool Council has yet to be confirmed.
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