Kingfisher to be best in country

KINGFISHER SCHOOL: major improvements

THE “outstanding” Kingfisher Special School is set to get a £2.5 million refurbishment to make it the best in the country

Plans have been drawn up to overhaul the borough’s only primary school for pupils with the most severe and complex special needs and disabilities.

The move comes after the council admitted that it had made a serious oversight by not initially including special schools in its primary capital programme, a 15-year initiative to rebuild or refurbish half of the country’s primaries in the worst condition.

Three special schools merged in 2001 to create Kingfisher in Foxdenton Lane, Chadderton.

It has gained national recognition and swept the board with top outstanding grades in its most recent Ofsted inspection. But there has been an increase in pupils with the most profound disabilities and Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families said: “We want to give them state-of-the-art facilities.

“There are children coming through with much more severe disabilities and the building needs to be adapted. A lot of children who would not have lived at one time are living, coming through school life and doing well, but we need specialist facilities in order to enable them to do that.

“We have been looking at what’s on offer elsewhere up and down the country for some time. What this will do is produce the best in the country.”

Kingfisher’s success has resulted in a drop in the number of children with special needs who need to be educated outside the borough.

However, the environment is no longer fit to cope with the increasing number of autistic children who need a stimulating environment, extra space, safe places to calm down and quiet areas for individual support.

There has also been an increase in pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities, many of whom have large pieces of medical equipment in the classroom, large wheelchairs and are accompanied by health staff. As a result the school is at risk of breaching building regulations and health and safety requirements on space.

The refurbishment would create tailored learning hubs for pupils with similar needs. There would also be a new entrance and administration and staff block.

The council’s cabinet committee will be asked tomorrow to approve approximately £2.5 million of work.

Plans have also been drawn up to reduce the number of surplus place in 16 schools in Failsworth, Moorside, Derker and Watersheddings.