Special education needs schools set for expansion thanks to £5m grant

Special Education Needs (SEN) Schools in Grantham and Spalding will be expanded thanks to a multi-million funding programme.

The Community Inclusive Trust (C.I.T.) has received £2.5 million from a £5 million fund to develop and expand 3 of its Outstanding SEN schools within the Multi-Academy Trust.

Ambergate Sports College (Grantham) The Sandon School (Grantham) and The Garth School (Spalding) will all be expanded to provide additional and necessary teaching accommodation and pupil places within Lincolnshire.

All of the schools that were rewarded funding are Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ and the new facilities will provide an opportunity for more children to benefit from the teaching and learning environments for children aged 4-19 years of age.

Designs: Peter Smith Associates Architects

Ambergate will now be further developed to provide four additional classrooms, new toilets and group rooms in order to keep up with the high demand for pupil places.

The Garth School in Spalding has gained funding to provide two additional classrooms, supplementary accommodation, an administration area and a hall to accommodate the recent growth in pupil places.

This new stand-alone building will provide new post-16 accommodation which will allow pupils to develop life skills. The new accommodation will consist of classrooms, horticulture, cafe/kitchen and outdoor spaces to grow vegetables.

There will also be a new hall and staff room accommodation to assist the school in continuing to provide high quality education.

The Sandon School gained funding to provide two additional classrooms, supplementary accommodation, an admin area and a hydro-pool.

Funding for the projects was procured by multi- disciplined firm Peter Smith Associates, who secured the funding from the EFA.

The process of developing the designs will commence in April 2018 with the successful schools and the projects will be delivered in 2019.

Chief Executive of the trust Peter Bell, said: “I am delighted that the Education Funding Agency (EFA) are supporting the outstanding provision that C.I.T. provides within its schools by investing in the future infrastructure.

“The investment will also be used in partnership with the proposed Local Authority SEND review, subject to it being approved.

“We want to play our part in providing the highest levels of education and care for children across Lincolnshire with all types of special educational needs.

“This is the second year in succession that Community Inclusive Trust has been awarded funding.

“The Trust had previously been awarded £2.6 million to provide new boilers and roofs, whilst, Ambergate Sports College was awarded funding to provide 8 additional classrooms, a hall extension, a dining facility and a staff room.”