A SPECIAL school in Taunton is hoping to boost the number of school places for children in the area with specialist and complex needs, by moving to a former secondary school in the town.

Selworthy School in Selworthy Road, announced plans over two years ago to move to the former nearby St Augustine's School site. 

The school says there is a growing number of children in the Taunton area with specialist and complex needs moves a step closer next week.

Now, plans the school has drawn up for the former secondary school, will be shown to the public for them to have their say. 

Two information events will be held at Selworthy School.

This will provide an opportunity for  residents to comment on plans for the former St Augustine of Canterbury School site on Lyngford Road to become a new school serving Taunton and West Somerset. 

Selworthy School plans to bid for funds to open a brand new school as a free school at this site. 

They have already been successful in gaining backing from the New Schools Network to progress a bid to central government to enable the project to move forward. 

Features of the new school will include specialist classrooms with indoor and outdoor learning spaces, a hydrotherapy pool, soft play spaces and a sensory environmental area with wildlife walk.

Selworthy School headteacher Mark Ruffett said: “This informal sharing of information marks an important step towards making a new school for families of children with specialist and complex needs a reality. 

"It is well documented that more places are badly needed in this part of Somerset to meet future demand and ease pressure on those families who are currently making difficult journeys to access education.

“With 115 staff and 98 learners at Selworthy every day and a sixth form that have to be bussed to different locations, our current school site is overcrowded.

"Our drawings and information panels will show for the first time how we plan to make best use of the St Augustine’s site and run a showcase establishment that can adapt to meet a variety of children’s needs.”

A spokesperson for Somerset County Council said: “Somerset County Council has been supporting Selworthy School with its bid for a new special Free School in Taunton.

"A new special school would deliver a significant number of additional school places for some of our most vulnerable children and help us to meet demand in the future.

“As there is no certainty that the bid will be successful, officers at SCC are also looking at alternative options to increase the number of special school places in the Taunton area.”

The events are on Tuesday, July 5, between 3.30 – 5.30pm and Wednesday, July 13, between 5 – 7pm at Selworthy School, Selworthy Road TA2 8HD. 

Information will also be available at www.selworthy.somerset.sch.uk.

Following consultation, the bid is submitted to the Department for Education and if successful, is referred to the Regional Schools Commissioner for a final decision.