Cheshire village school unveils expansion plans to cater for extra children
It would see the construction of a two-storey teaching block with link corridors and staircase
Church Lawton School(Image: Google)
A school for children with autism wants to expand so it can cater for an extra 14 pupils. Church Lawton School opened as a free school for autistic children 10 years ago and currently has 70 pupils on its books, aged between four and 19 years old.
Liberty Academy Trust has applied to Cheshire East Council for permission for a new modular two-storey teaching block with link corridors and staircase and a single storey infill extension on the site at Cherry Tree Avenue. A design and access statement submitted by Loxton and Associates on behalf of the school, states: “The proposed new building will provide additional specialist food technology teaching and associated spaces at ground floor level with additional staff and administration offices on the upper floor.”
It says a new staircase and link corridor will connect the new accommodation to the existing building. The single storey infill extension at the front of the building will provide additional space for the expanding school roll and staff numbers.
The school says it has operated at full capacity since it opened in 2015 ‘yet hundreds of local families remain on waiting lists, with children often forced into out-of-borough provision or stuck in mainstream settings ill-equipped to support autism’. The planning document says: “This expansion proposal is a direct response to the documented need, aiming to deliver high capacity, high-quality autism specific classrooms, a high demand cooking suite, and an independence hub.
“It supports both local authority obligations under EHCPs (education, health and care plans) and the Liberty Trust’s mission to deliver a world class, locally accessible education for autistic learners. The proposed extension adds multiple autism-designed classrooms, raising capacity beyond the current 70-place limit.”
It adds: “Approval will not only benefit current students and families, but will proactively alleviate council SEND (special educational needs and disability) expenditure, reduce transport impact, and enhance community inclusion.”
The application, number 25/3672/FUL, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website. The last date for comments is November 5.
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