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 Staff and pupils at Valence School near
Sevenoaks were joined by Kent County Council Cabinet Member
for Education Operations, Resources and Skills
Mark
Dance for a sod-turning ceremony on Wednesday 9
January.
The school caters for students from the age of five to 19 with
physical disability and/or complex medical needs. It offers a range
of services for students, which unlike many other schools are all
based on the school site.
The £6.6million project will see the construction of four new
residential pavilions, providing living accommodation for 36
students in a mixture of single and double bedrooms. A new teaching
block will provide five classrooms and three group rooms. The
existing teaching block is being extended and refurbished,
providing one new classroom and two refurbished and enlarged
classrooms.
The residential block is due for completion this November with
the teaching block following a month later. All work is scheduled
to finish by June 2009.
Headteacher Roland Gooding said: "'This development at Valence
is the best news the school has had for years. The commitment of
KCC to the school's specialist work and its students sets the
school on a path that will enable it to provide first class
accommodation and services and most importantly outstanding
outcomes for the students at the school.
"In recent years the school has faced enormous challenges as the
special needs of students has dramatically increased and the
school's accommodation and staffing levels have become increasingly
inadequate. KCC has now fully recognised the school's unique
circumstances and is putting in the resources the school needs.
Students and parents are delighted with the proposed developments
and the Governing Body and staff are looking forward to developing
the school positively in the years ahead."
Mark Dance said: "This is a significant investment at Valence
School but essential for its continued success. I look forward to
getting work underway and returning in 2009 when it is all
completed." |