Year-Round Support To Be Given Close To Home For Children With Complex Needs

An additional service is being created at Heronsbridge School in Bridgend so that children and young people with complex needs can receive all-year-round support close to home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Part of the school is being refurbished so that those children who require a specialist placement can access support for 52 weeks of the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Currently, any children who need that level of support have to be placed in neighbouring authorities as Bridgend County Borough does not have a 52-week provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Councillor Huw David, said: “In recent years it has become increasingly clear that we need to have our own specialist 52-week provision. We’ve carried out consultation with families over this and they are very keen on the new plans. They’ve told us that while they appreciate the support that can be given outside of the county borough, the upheaval can sometimes be unsettling. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Stability and continuity are vitally important in a young person’s life, so we are pleased to be able to create this new service at Heronsbridge which will enable children and young people to remain within their local community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is hoped that the required refurbishment will be completed in time for the new service to open in early 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​