Special school pitched for former GP surgery
AFORMER Widnes doctors’ surgery could be turned into a school for children with special educational needs (SEN).
Lavender Field School, based in Crewe, has applied for permission from Halton Borough Council for the change of use at what used to be the Lugsdale Road Clinic, on Lugsdale Road.
A planning statement submitted with the proposals said that if given the goahead, the establishment would provide education for up to 32 pupils aged between five and 18 years and with conditions such as autism; speech, language and communication difficulties; and learning difficulties associated with challenging behaviour.
Poppy Field School would be staffed by one headteacher, four teachers, eight teaching assistants, a part-time administrator and chef.
Pupil numbers would be anticipated to rise from an initial phase of 15 in September 2022 to 32 in 2024.
The statement said facilities would include a music room, sensory room and playground, the use of which would be limited to short amounts of time outside “antisocial” hours.
It added that discussions with Halton Council had identified a need for specialist services in the borough.