WITH school almost out for summer, pupils will be looking forward to six weeks of relaxation and fun. But when students from Woodley school return in the autumn, they will find their place looking rather different.
After receiving planning permission earlier in the year, Wokingham Borough Council announced last week that a £4.4 million expansion project to expand Addington School will start during the holidays.
And modular construction specialists Reds10 will complete a sensory garden and two multi-use games areas (MUGAs) during the summer so they are ready for when the new school year starts. Work will then begin on a new single-storey building, which will include four classrooms, a café and social/breakout areas.
To help reduce disruption to students, up to 70% of the building work will be completely off-site and install modually.
When complete, Addington will be able to take 50 more children with special educational needs and disabilities. About 130 Wokingham Borough children needing a special school place are currently educated outside the borough.
Executive member for children’s services, Cllr UllaKarin Clark, said: “The council is delighted this exciting project which will benefit dozens of children from the Wokingham Borough has taken another step forward.
“Addington is an outstanding school which provides world-class education for SEND children from the area and beyond. Now we have planning permission we will be able to commence the project to invest in the school’s facilities, which will make children and their families’ lives easier by offering more young people a school place closer to home.
“This will save them time with shorter journeys and reduce travel costs for the council.”
And the news was welcomed by Addington’s headteacher, Sara Attra.
She said: “Everyone at Addington School is excited to see this project coming to fruition.
“The expansion of the school means our outstanding staff will be able to support even more children to get the education they need.
“We are already looking forward to seeing the brand new building in action with the range of classrooms and other exciting teaching areas available to our students from September next year.”
