(UK) S. Tyneside; $3.3M for new special school; numbers nearly double since 2015

AUG 29, 2022, S. TYNESIDE COUNCIL: Massive Investment for Young People with Special Educational Needs https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/76524/Massive-Investment-for-Young-People-with-Special-Educational-Needs

NE England

A massive investment has been made for children with special educational needs in South Tyneside with the opening of a re-designed and enhanced school on a new site. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities, Epinay Business and Enterprise School will open on the site of the former South Shields School which closed in 2020.

The Council has invested £1.9m [$3.3M] in the project which has seen buildings adapted and refurbished to ensure suitability for its new learners. This is further evidence that the Council is delivering on its priority of supporting young people in need….

Chris Rue, headteacher at the school, said: "This is a very exciting time for our children, parents and carers and the entire school community. We are committed to giving our pupils the very best learning experience. We can hardly wait to move into this fantastic learning environment….

The re-location of the school from its base in Jarrow means that more children with special education needs can now be taught within South Tyneside, instead of having to travel outside the Borough for their education. The move also means that more children with a greater range of special needs can be taught on the new site.

Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "Epinay Business and Enterprise School provides an 'Outstanding' education to our young people. I am delighted that from September pupils will be on site and learning in this new environment, and whilst it is a real change, it opens up many new opportunities for learning.

"In South Tyneside the number of children with Education Health and Care Plans has almost doubled since 2015 and the Borough has higher levels of children needing support than nationally….