Aug 5, 2019, South Wales Argus: Funding awarded for special school expansion in Newport https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17817289.funding-awarded-special-school-expansion-newport/ NEWPORT council has been awarded £300,000 [$364K U.S.] to expand a special school to help meet demand for places. The city council is proposing to expand Ysgol Bryn Derw, in the Gaer area of the city, to increase its capacity from 48 to 68 school places from January, 2020. Under the plans an empty building within the school grounds will be refurbished to provide additional teaching space for 12 pupils…. A life skills area and quiet rooms are also proposed, with a disabled platform lift installed to allow access to the area. … The expansion will also help the council reduce its number of out-of-county placements and associated costs. The creation of an additional 12 places is estimated to cost £19,468 per learner [$24K U.S.], compared to the average cost of out-of-county-placements which is £36,000 [$44K U.S.]. Plans to expand provision at the school – which educates children with autism and associated learning difficulties aged between four and 19 – were supported in a six-week public consultation. Demand for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) specialist places is currently higher than provision at the school and in the city. The school is currently operating above agreed capacity, says Estyn, which also supported the proposals in the public consultation. …
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