Bid to convert Widnes former GP practice into special school

The former Lugsdale Road Clinic on Lugsdale Road. (Google)

A former Widnes doctors’ surgery could be turned into a school for children with special educational needs (SEN).

Lavender Field School, based in Crewe, has applied for permission from Halton Borough Council for the change of use at what used to be the Lugsdale Road Clinic, on Lugsdale Road.

A planning statement submitted with the proposals said that if given the go-ahead, the establishment would provide education for up to 32 pupils aged between five and 18 years and with conditions such as autism; speech, language and communication difficulties; and learning difficulties associated with challenging behaviour.

“Poppy Field School” would be staffed by one headteacher, four teachers, eight teaching assistants, a part-time administrator and chef.

Pupil numbers would be anticipated to rise from an initial phase of 15 in September 2022 to 32 in 2024.

The statement said facilities would include a music room, sensory room and playground, the use of which would be limited to short amounts of time outside “antisocial” hours.

It added that discussions with Halton Council had identified a need for specialist services in the borough.

Lavender Field School said its other establishments are all graded between “good” and “outstanding” under the education watchdog Ofsted’s rating system.

Public consultation is open until February 24 with the local authority aiming to decide the matter by around March 24.

In conclusion, the statement said: “The development is located in a sustainable urban location and will utilise a vacant, previously used site.

“The new SEN school development will importantly meet the identified need for additional special school places within the borough, enabling the needs of pupils to be met locally through the provision of bespoke facilities, tailored to the children’s needs.”

Read more news from Widnes, Cheshire, here.