Bid to open new special school in Hastings or Rother

The Flagship Free School will be a small special school open to around 50 children in years six to 11.

The team behind the project recently submitted an application to the Department for Education for the school, which is supported by East Sussex County Council.

Helen Kay, a member of the team behind the bid, said: “We have submitted our proposal for the Flagship School to the department and we are now waiting the outcome of that.

“We are hopeful that we will gain a positive response.

“We have been working on the proposal for the school for over a year now.

“We have been working with a team of committed parents and professionals to develop our vision for what our school will be able to offer for children who have significant social, communication and associated difficulties – high functioning ASD/attachment difficulties/mental health difficulties – and who can access the national curriculum if given the right learning environment.

“Our aim, if successful, is to open the school for the first cohort of 16 children in September, 2017.”

The team’s vision for the school is one where ‘empowered and well supported’ teachers, therapists and teaching assistants work in partnership with parents and carers to enable children to experience a ‘high quality, exciting and integrated curriculum’ designed to meet their individual needs and learning styles.

The project is seeking expressions of support and interest from prospective parents. Anyone interested can email [email protected].

To find out more, visit www.flagshipschool.org.uk

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