New Kingussie unit for special needs children
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LONG journeys and residential school stays for youngsters from Badenoch and Strathspey who require Additional Support Needs (ASN) are set to become a thing of the past.
Highland councillors on the education, culture and sport (ECS) committee have approved a dedicated ASN unit within the classroom extension to be built at Kingussie High School.
It means that youngsters will no longer have to face round trips of as much as 80 miles to Inverness or even further for their educational provision.
Initial indications are that the unit, which will be designed to accommodate a maximum of 15 pupils, will cost in the region of £400,000.
Local Highland Councillor Jaci Douglas (Independent) said: "The ASN unit in Kingussie is to be welcomed as it means pupils who require extra support in school will no longer need to travel outside Badenoch and Strathspey to access it.
"At present the children often face a very long journey each day to Inverness and beyond – and in some cases this could possibly mean having to go to residential schools outwith Highland and far away from family, friends and community."
She added that the ECS committee which met in Inverness had been assured that this change to the plans for the new school extension would not delay the project in any way.
Cllr Douglas commented: "It has already been far too long for the pupils and families in Kingussie and the surrounding area to wait for adequate school accommodation, and any delay now would be unacceptable.
"Local councillors will be keeping a close eye on how things progress and I for one will be ensuring momentum is kept up on this whole project."
Mr John Tracey, Kingussie High School’s head teacher said he was delighted with the committee’s decision.
He added: "I look forward to improved provision for all learners in our catchment area and in Badenoch and Strathspey. It means the young people will not have to travel so far for their educational provision which will be a good thing for them and their parents.
"It’s great that they will get the education they need in their own community."
Mike Donaghy, chairperson of the school’s parent council, said: "I absolutely welcome this. Youngsters with ASN will have a facility to go to in their own area and will not have to travel far.
"The new unit will also bring a new dimension to the school in terms of the integration of kids with different abilities which doesn’t permit itself at the moment. It’s a great opportunity for the school."
The committee meeting in Inverness heard that the unit was required to not only to meet the needs of existing pupils within Badenoch and Strathspey who currently travel to Drummond School in the Highland capital but the rising projected number in future.
At the moment four pupils in the area need to travel for their supported education but this figure is anticipated to rise to seven, eight and 11 over the next three years.
The report before members also identified future requirements of pupils with significant and complex additional support needs currently progressing through the education system in the area.
Detailed costs of the new facility will be provided to the ECS committee in November.
However, whilst there are no detailed costings for the on-going revenue costs available at this stage the feedback from the specialist practitioners is that this investment will actually save money in the long term.
This is on the basis that it will avoid pupils being transported from the strath to Inverness on a daily basis and also, critically, avoids some pupils having to be transferred to residential establishments outwith the Highland Council area.
Pupils will also benefit as they will have a relatively short journey to the local facility.
The availability of the new unit at Kingussie will provide a local progression from the Rainbow Class at Aviemore Primary School which currently accommodates primary-age pupils with significant complex additional needs.
The new classrooms at Kingussie High School should be ready for pupils to move into by February 2013, according to Highland Council chiefs, and will replace the old teaching huts.
Construction work on the two-storey block of 12 classrooms expected to cost around £2.67 million prior to the latest announcement is due to begin in June, next year.
The work could also lead to a new main entrance for pupils who, at present, have to contend with traffic at the main school gates.
