OEA Alternative Provision looks to add more places to its small Special Education Needs (SEN) school, this time at a base on the outskirts of Newport.
The OEA, which caters to individuals who may find mainstream school challenging, could open a new base on Riverway in the former home of the national hearing loss charity, RNID and IW Sensory Services and next to local charity, Friends of the Animals.
OEA already has a site in Sandown and provides activities all over the Island, but is looking to provide more places so pupils are not sent to the mainland. Each child has a personalised education programme.
In plans submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, the building would be changed into a school, with stud walling separating classrooms, offices and seating areas.
Andrew White Planning Consultancy, says on behalf of OEA that the approach is to provide an educational setting that does not look or feel like a school and has been designed to be friendly and welcoming. Outside, a therapy room and sensory garden could be built along with a store and classroom area with benches.
The agents say it can provide a safe and secure outdoor space, where education can also be provided in an informal way. The site on Riverway could provide 12 more spaces at the school and employ 6 full-time members of staff. There are currently 18 children who attend the OEA and nine staff members.
You can view the plans, 23/00505/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register and comments can be submitted until 2nd May.
Island Roads has submitted an objection to the application due to sub-standard levels of visibility and a potential increase in reversing manoeuvres within the site which could ‘fail to provide a safe and suitable access’ for all users.
Island Roads object?,why because who ever uses this site would be same,not sure half dozen vehicles a day would cause issue. ? Why did council close WISE and youth centres and now paying out twice as much tax payers money.
The very basic educational needs of these beings could be taught at home.
Saving us all a fortune in hard pressed times, and the money saved used to pay for those who will be paying into society to keep these from cradle to their eventual grave.
Whilst feeling some pity for these children, it is time they too had the costly benefits paid to the parents of such cut to the bone.
It is grossly unfair than parents of normal children are not funded anywhere near as much as simple children, yet the latter group are far less costly to a parent to amuse.
Not only that, but these parents then get individual ‘helpers’ or care workers, who ought to be looking after the elderly, but instead they are taking out a downs, or other mental challenged child for a day out at the beach, or horse riding etc.
The parents should entertain AND educate their offspring, as easy with P.C’s, as you rightly state the basic level of education is all they will ever need, so why waste cash?
Every child is entitled to an education in a safe and caring enviroment.
Thankfully times have changed from when children were hidden away because they were different.
These ‘beings’ also include children from homes that have massive safeguarding issues. So them being at home all the time could result in more abuse!!!!
Probably because it’s on an industrial estate. Dozens of trucks up and down the road, people in cars weaving about because they’re looking for a shop, instead of where they’re going. Not a great environment for children.