Tuesday
23
April
Ysgol Cedewain in "dire need of replacemenet"
04/03/2020 @ 07:15
A case will be made to the Welsh Government in the hope that they will provide £17 million to go towards building a new £22.7million special school in Newtown.
PCC want to build a 108 pupil school to replace the existing Ysgol Cedewain and estimate that project would cost £22,678,20.
“It’s a school in dire need of replacement.”
Adult social services portfolio holder, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, added: “Anyone who’s ever been to Cedewain knows the fantastic work the staff do in very difficult circumstances, supporting some of our most vulnerable youngsters.
“If ever a new school was needed it is at Cedewain, but the experiences the youngsters have even in difficult surroundings, have been great due to the dedication of the staff.”
Portfolio holder for Young People, Culture and Cllr Rachel Powell added that she was “really looking forward” to see the project progress.
As part of the plans, the new Ysgol Cedewain could have purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms a garden as well as a community café.
If the SOC is approved, a new school could be built by early 2023.
In the SOC Ysgol Cedewain is described as a special school for children with additional learning needs (ALN).
It provides education for pupils from two years of age to 19 years old, with wide range of complex educational, sensory and physical needs.
Most pupils have a statement of special educational needs (SEN).
The current building is described as being in “very poor condition”, categorised as condition C.
The SOC says:
Most of the classrooms are ageing portable structures and in some cases, are in need of urgent maintenance and repair, nearing the end of their usable lifespan.
The distance and obstacles between classrooms mean that a lot of time and effort is spent safely escorting pupils with complex sensory and physical needs around the school site.
This can be particularly challenging during bad weather.
The buildings and layout also severely limit the provision of specialist equipment for pupils with significant additional needs.
Specialist equipment is not available in all areas of the school therefore limiting access and mobility for some pupils;
“There are significant health and safety and safeguarding issues with the site,
including a public right of way that runs across it, difficult access areas and poor parking facilities.
More detail has emerged from the meeting at which councillors aid the current school was "in dire need of a replacement."
The council's cabinet, agreed at the meeting to submit a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) to bid for money from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme.PCC want to build a 108 pupil school to replace the existing Ysgol Cedewain and estimate that project would cost £22,678,20.
They hope that the Welsh Government would pay 75 per cent of the costs£17,008,650 with PCC funding the remaining 25 per cent £5,669,550.
Education portfolio holder, Cllr Phyl Davies, said: “This is another school that’s been subject to much debate over the last few years.“It’s a school in dire need of replacement.”
Adult social services portfolio holder, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, added: “Anyone who’s ever been to Cedewain knows the fantastic work the staff do in very difficult circumstances, supporting some of our most vulnerable youngsters.
“If ever a new school was needed it is at Cedewain, but the experiences the youngsters have even in difficult surroundings, have been great due to the dedication of the staff.”
Portfolio holder for Young People, Culture and Cllr Rachel Powell added that she was “really looking forward” to see the project progress.
As part of the plans, the new Ysgol Cedewain could have purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms a garden as well as a community café.
If the SOC is approved, a new school could be built by early 2023.
In the SOC Ysgol Cedewain is described as a special school for children with additional learning needs (ALN).
It provides education for pupils from two years of age to 19 years old, with wide range of complex educational, sensory and physical needs.
Most pupils have a statement of special educational needs (SEN).
The current building is described as being in “very poor condition”, categorised as condition C.
The SOC says:
Most of the classrooms are ageing portable structures and in some cases, are in need of urgent maintenance and repair, nearing the end of their usable lifespan.
The distance and obstacles between classrooms mean that a lot of time and effort is spent safely escorting pupils with complex sensory and physical needs around the school site.
This can be particularly challenging during bad weather.
The buildings and layout also severely limit the provision of specialist equipment for pupils with significant additional needs.
Specialist equipment is not available in all areas of the school therefore limiting access and mobility for some pupils;
“There are significant health and safety and safeguarding issues with the site,
including a public right of way that runs across it, difficult access areas and poor parking facilities.
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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