Oct 19, 2023, BBC News: Long-awaited special needs unit opens in Northampton https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-67151213
Central England
An "amazing unit" for children with special needs has been opened at a primary school.
The facility, known as The Nest, at Chiltern Primary School, Northampton, was due to be built at a different site but the project was hit by delays.
An alternative had to be found within a few months and could not be ready for the start of term.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) said it was working to tackle a lack of special school places.
Parents in the county have complained that, even when they had a diagnosis for their child, and an official report outlining the provision they needed, suitable places were not available in the county.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) announced that 50 places would be provided at Hunsbury Park Primary School for children with autism, with a first phase for pupils up to year two and the second for years three to six.
The proposed unit for 50 children at Hunsbury Park Primary School was delayed
The first phase, with 20 places, opened last November but parents were told in July that there were construction problems with the second phase and it would have to be provided at Chiltern Primary School in Duston instead.
The new 30-place unit at Chiltern Primary was officially opened this week by Fiona Baker, WNC's cabinet member for children and education.
"It has been a challenge. The situation we found ourselves to be was no fault of ours but we have managed to turn this around," she said.
She added that the new facilities "look amazing"….
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