Three Ways Special School and the Margaret Coates Centre will benefit from projects that have been approved and are worth a combined total of over £250,000.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said, “The projects that the Cabinet has approved will benefit pupils, teachers, and parents at these excellent schools.
“The investment to improve traffic management at Three Ways site will reduce congestion and improve safety for all users of the site and the expansion of the Margaret Coates Centre shows the Council responding quickly to an increase in demand in our area for places for pupils with autism.
“These investments are over and above the projects previously approved in the Children’s Services capital programme all of which are aimed at ensuring that children and young people have the best possible environment for learning.”
Three Ways School – Traffic Management
A £107,000 project will improve the traffic congestion on-site at the end of the school day. A proposal has been developed which has the support of the Headteachers of both Three Ways and the adjacent Link Centre who share the site. This proposes a new exit enabling a one way system to operate on part of the site which together with new parking and drop off arrangements will improve things significantly. A planning application for this project has been submitted.
Expansion of Margaret Coates Centre; St. Martin’s Garden Primary
There is increased demand for places for pupils with autism. £150,000 is being allocated to increase the number of places available at the Margaret Coates Centre from 12 to 18 through the remodelling of the accommodation at St Martin’s Garden Primary to provide an additional teaching space and there will also be works to the office and kitchen at the Centre.
These projects are in addition to a number previously approved in the 2012/13 Children’s Services capital programme which include additional classrooms (Oldfield Park Infants, Peasedown St. John Primary), an Applied Learning Centre (Ralph Allen School), co-educational modifications (Oldfield School), a Sports Hall (Wellsway), and the adjustments necessary for Trinity Primary School to become an Academy.
