Plans to change areas of care home site into special education needs school in Kirton

Plans to transform parts of a care home site into a special education needs school have been put forward.

Applicants Mr and Mrs C. Smith hope to change the use of areas of the ground floor at Kirton’s Woodlands Court.

Plans propose to transform eight ground floor rooms into SEN facilities, including four classrooms, a meeting room, dining room, medical room, office, toilets and conservatory.

However, the ground floor kitchen and laundry facilities will remain in use to cater for residents.

At present, 95% of the original house at Woodlands Court is unused, with residents living in an adjacent single-story building.

“The change of use is for education purposes to serve as a school catering for pupils with special educational needs, with each child having a EHCP,” the supporting statement submitted to Boston Borough Council by agent Terry Sykes (Design & Build) reads.

“This is an educational health and care plan specific to each child and is a legal document prescribing how a school meets the pupil’s individual needs.

“Some of the barriers to learning may come in the form of ASD (autism spectrum disorder), autism, communication and interaction.

“All will have some cognitive barrier to learning and need the support of specialist highly trained and experienced staff.”

The statement added: “Such proposed operational use of this site will allow between 24-40 pupils aged 5–16 with potentially a staff of 14.

“School hours of which would be 8.45am–3pm, with staff working hours being 7.30am–5.30pm.

“In addition there will occasionally be parent’s evenings until 8pm of which would only be twice a year.”

Woodlands Court has been operating as a care home since 1980, currently offering nursing, palliative, residential, respite, dementia and day care.

“The building is in very good condition with large rooms and interesting architectural features,” the statement added.

“it also has been subject to being heated by a modern bio-mass heating system, the units of which are located within a recently constructed adjoining building.”

Environmental Health say it has no objection to this proposal.

Plans to change a home into a special education needs school in Whaplode were recently passed by South Holland District Council, despite objections from residents and MP Sir John Hayes.

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