SEND news
Link Newsletter August 2020
Delamere School Hydrotherapy Pool - School Capital Funding
Short Breaks - Commissioning Team
Other sections: In the Spotlight: Back to School | Advice and Guidance | The Local Offer | What's On | Services
Work starts on new £500k school hydrotherapy pool
Work has started on a fantastic new £500,000 state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool at Delamere Special School in Flixton.
Trafford Council is investing the money replacing the existing and outdated hydrotherapy pool facilities at the school to provide a new modern fit for purpose environment for young people in the community.
The school, on Irlam Road, is a community maintained specialist primary with places for 80 children. The school motto is “Together we Make a Difference”.
The scheme, which was given planning permission by Trafford Council in March, 2019, will be paid for by the Department for Education’s Special Educational Needs (SEND capital) funding.
Staff and local residents can now look forward to brand new facilities including a ‘level deck’ pool, and much improved changing facilities for both ambulant and wheelchair users.
Cllr Catherine Hynes, Deputy Leader of Trafford Council, said:
“Trafford Council is committed to the health and wellbeing of residents across the borough. This scheme is absolutely superb and will provide young people with a fantastic new hydrotherapy pool and amazing new changing facilities.”
“We want the young people at Delamere Special School to have the facilities they need for their health and wellbeing. The coronavirus epidemic has held up work but I am delighted that we are now ready to go. This is great news for the school and the local community and I cannot wait to see the finished product. Thank you very much to everyone who has been involved in this scheme.”
The work started on 13 July 2020 and the new facility is expected to be open for pupils in January 2021.
Short Breaks
The Commissioning team are currently in the process of evaluating bids for a new Autism specific short break service. This offer will be during school holidays only and delivery will begin in the half term of October 2020.
As soon as a provider has been awarded the contract all relevant information will be shared with partners and families. We will feature the successful provider in the next edition of the Link.
Over the past few weeks the short breaks service has returned to face to face delivery for both 5–11 years and 11–18 years at Gorse Hill Studios, a new venue for both age groups.
Due to new government guidelines on group activities such as short breaks, the current offer provides a reduced length with fewer children. However uptake has been good and overall feedback from parents has been positive.
Families have really appreciated the return to face to face sessions which allows both parent carers and their children the respite this service offers.
To apply for the short breaks service you need to register your child’s details online.