£1m revamp announced for "amazing" North Yorkshire specialist school

A new project to revamp a school providing expert care for children with complex needs, began work this week.

The construction project, which comes as part of the new initiative, ‘The Great Yorkshire Build’ from Yorkshire Children’s Charity, will see nearly £1m worth of building work and new kit invested into Brooklands School, based in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

Brooklands is a SEND school which caters for around 80 of the most vulnerable children in North Yorkshire. Outside of home and hospital, Brooklands is “all some of the children will ever know” and is unfortunately lacking the most basic provisions.

The Great Yorkshire Build has been designed to improve outdated, insufficient and inadequate facilities at many of the region’s SILC and SEND schools.

Stainforth Construction, Bowman Riley, GMI and Rex Procter and Partners are supporting with the building of a bespoke rebound therapy facility, the refurbishment of the early years’ classrooms and sensory room, and the build of a new bike track and outside play area following the school’s existing outdoor space being ruled ‘unfit for use’ by the council.

Rebound therapy sees the use of trampolines to provide therapeutic exercise while supporting development in communication through intensive interaction, strength and coordination and helping alleviate anxiety. This kind of therapy is said to be beneficial to a wide range of special needs, but in particular for those with autism.

Due to be completed by Easter 2023, the work will begin this week, during October half term and will be a phased programme of works that will take place both within term time and the school holidays, while being planned as to not disrupt the children’s learning and school time throughout the construction.

From a sustainable perspective, Gallant Building Services, who are sub-contractors on the rebound therapy construction, will be installing Photovoltaic (PV) materials and devices to allow sunlight to be converted into electrical energy.

Charlotte Farrington, CEO at Yorkshire Children’s Charity, commented: “Brooklands do amazing work providing education and support to children with complex needs, and we’re proud to be able to help provide the tools and environment they need to carry out their hard work.

“Our ‘Great Yorkshire Build’ initiative is just one of the many things we’re doing here at Yorkshire Children’s Charity to help transform the childhoods of disadvantaged children within our region.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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