(UK) Yate: School for "pupils with a range of complex learning needs proposed"

June 21, 2025, Gazette: Plans submitted to open SEN primary school in Yate 

SW England

A NEW primary school for children with special educational needs could open on a business park in Yate.

Plans have been submitted by education provider Witherslack Group to turn an empty office block - known as Apex House - located in Westerleigh Business Park into a school. 

A change of use planning application - which has been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council - states the school would support 50 children aged five to 12.

If plans are approved, the school would create up to 42 new full time jobs.

According to the application, the proposed SEN school would meet the needs of a diverse group of pupils with a range of complex learning needs.

This includes children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties and co-existing ADHD, speech, language and communication difficulties and attachment disorders.

It comes as Witherslack Group opened Castlefell School in Rudgeway near Thornbury in March last year - which has had ‘unprecedented’ demand. . . .

 “Having opened in April 2024, Castlefell School has seen unprecedented demand. 

“In response to this demand, Witherslack now seeks a new separate site to provide an expanded operation.

“This will include the provision of primary school operations at Apex House (the application site) and secondary school operations remaining solely at Castlefell School.”

It continues: “There is currently an undersupply of SEN school places which is resulting in South Gloucestershire Council struggling to provide places to meet local demand.  . . .