A new facility for young people with special educational needs (SEN) is opening at Hayle Academy.
The project was financed and developed by Cornwall Council in partnership with the school and will specialise in supporting those whose primary needs are communication and interaction, or cognition and learning.
The new 20-place Area Resource Base (ARB) is scheduled to open in September 2022 and will provide specialised support for students with education, health, and care plans, whose needs cannot wholly be met within a mainstream secondary school.
All students who join the ARB will benefit from being able to combine time in mainstream classes with additional support provided by the ARB in line with their individual needs.
Council cabinet member for children and families, Barbara Ellenbroek, said: “Ensuring that children with SEN are able to access the support they need, closer to home, is one of my priorities.
“The ARB at Hayle is part of the £6 million capital grant Cornwall Council is using to improve buildings and accessibility for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across Cornwall.”
The site will be operated by Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, which is committed to inclusive, high- quality education and to ensuring the success and achievement of all students within its learning community.
Dr Jenny Blunden, chief executive of the trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our plans have been approved and that we will be able to offer this specialist education to young people at Hayle Academy.
“We know that high quality education is essential for children to achieve their potential, and our trust is committed to supporting all our students to achieve their best through the range of opportunities and the excellent teaching that our academies provide.
“This new resource base will be a really important service to our local families in the future and is part of our exciting plans for Hayle Academy. I would like to thank all our families, staff, and governors, and the local community who gave our plans to create this new base their full support.”
Families who would like more information about places at the ARB should contact the Statutory SEN Service via email at SEND@cornwall.gov.uk
