A children’s services business is hoping to set up a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school in the former temperance hall in Newbury town centre.
Amegreen Children's Services, based in Mortimer, has submitted a planning application to transform the vacant grade II listed building in Northcroft Lane into an educational facility.
In terms of pupils and personnel, the proposed use as a SEND School would consist of around 20 children and six members of staff.
The planning application states: “In terms of capacity at existing schools, the applicant has conducted research which shows that within West Berkshire there is currently a deficit of specialist places within existing schools – estimated to be 443 spaces.
“If no extra provision is provided, this deficit is expected to rise to around 3,320 by 2025.
“The applicant operates other SEND schools within West Berkshire and the request for spaces has been significant and provides a microcosm of the wider demand for this type of development within West Berkshire.”
Amegreen was established in 2013 and currently runs a community of children’s homes across West Berkshire and North Hampshire, including three that specialise in caring for children with learning disabilities.
An Amegreen spokesperson said: “At Amegreen Children’s Services we recognize that trauma early on in life leads to many difficulties including building relationships and having positive experiences.
“We work with developmental trauma, attachment theory and PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) to support our young people to explore the world safely and, re-build their self-worth and confidence so they can go on to achieve their individual ambitions.”
The planning application can be viewed on the West Berkshire Council planning portal by searching 24/00908/FUL.
