July 22, 2020, Wiltshire Times: New school to be built in Wiltshire for autistic children https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/18599117.new-school-built-wiltshire-autistic-children/ (SW England) AN academy which runs a Calne special school is expanding into the south of Wiltshire to offer places for 150 children with autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. A decision to create a new school near Salisbury was announced last year in a bid to prevent pupils having to travel long distances to get the right education. Now it has been agreed by the Department for Education that Reach South Academy Trust, which already runs Springfield Academy in Calne, will operate the new school in the south. A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: "Reach South runs Springfields Academy which is based across two sites in Calne and at Sarum Academy in Salisbury. The Salisbury site is known as Springfields South and opened in February 2019 for pupils with ASD and SEMH…. Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills, said: “This new school is going to make a huge difference to those families with SEND children in south Wiltshire. We are delighted that Reach South, with many years of experience, will be at the helm of an exciting new future.”… “We have high aspirations and expectations and we are excited to work in close partnership with Wiltshire Council and to support their work to deliver a system of excellence to ensure that all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Wiltshire have access to a first class education….
