First free special needs primary school for Tees Valley

There is increasing demand for special needs school facilities within the Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland authority areas, in the North East of England.

Calls have been made for free special needs schooling, after Tees Valley Education secured funding, the area will soon have its first free special needs primary school, Discovery Special Academy.

It’s four yearssince the Tees Valley Education Multi Academy Trust first started talks with the Department for Education. After formal approval,construction work is finally underway atthe former Nature’s World site, near Sandy Flatts Lane.

It’s hoped children will be in the classroom by the summer of 2022.

The school will feature a therapy suite, a physiotherapy room, soft play, light and sound therapy, as well as rebound therapy.

Middlesbroughis in the top 10% most deprived areas, with the local authority area ranking 16 out of 317, which only highlights the importance placed on the need for the area to have this service available for families supporting children with special needs.

Discovery Special Academy will teach up to 100 children in a purpose-built facility, but this investment in Middlesbrough will support families for generations to come.