A PRIMARY school can extend its unit for pupils with special needs to create more space for teaching and essential equipment.

Overmonnow Primary in Rockfield Road, Monmouth, was given the go-ahead by Monmouthshire council planning officers to extend two areas in its special educational needs unit, which has now been granted permission.

The plan includes a single-storey extension to extend two classroom areas and an external covered area.

The school was purpose-built to partly accommodate a unit for 20 pupils with moderate learning difficulties. Across three classes, it caters for pupils with autism, severe learning difficulties and complex needs. Currently, there are 18 pupils with 13 staff.

Approving the plans means that storage space for equipment can be increased to accommodate items such as walkers, standard frames and wheelchairs and free up space within the existing teaching zones.

The school says the extra areas will provide a better teaching and learning experience and accommodate wheelchair users who will have direct access to the playground.

Direct access will also help develop pupils’ independence, self-help skills, confidence and self-esteem and the extra space will help those with complex needs to learn.

Creating extended covered areas will enable pupils who need to time to go into the open out in all weathers. The improvements will also provide better direct access for wheelchair users onto the playground and help reduce the need for numerous transfers.

David Watson, acting on behalf of the school, said: “It will greatly improve the day-to-day running of the unit, and long-term benefits for staff and pupils as well as the local community.”

Work is set to take place over the summer holidays.