Ryecroft School – a brand new special school for autistic children and young people aged 4-18 has opened in Walsall to meet the growing demand for specialist provision in the area. The beautifully designed new facility, part of Options Autism, provides a caring, structured learning environment so all pupils can engage with their education and achieve their full potential.
Commenting on the new school, inspirational new Headteacher, Daryl Hill, said, ‘Ryecroft is helping to provide a bespoke education for all our pupils with autism along with highly complex needs and multiple diagnoses in their education, health and care plans (EHCPs). We are working closely with local authorities including Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Dudley.
‘Our first cohort of 12 pupils joined us in September. Many of them have been out of education for prolonged periods of time due to the lack of places suitable to meet their needs, so we have a carefully planned, extremely supportive induction process for pupils to adapt into school.
‘Ryecroft is a highly inclusive school where everyone is welcome and everyone can achieve. Our values – ‘commitment’, ‘caring’ and ‘creative’ – are central to everything we do. Our aim is to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment, with our team working together to build a learning community with the support and resources required to enable every pupil to realise their fullest abilities.
‘A high staff-to-pupil ratio with one teacher and teaching assistant for 5-6 pupils, a strong pastoral team to support and differentiate access in the classroom, and a clinical team including occupational therapists and speech therapists ensure the needs of all pupils can be met.’
Located in the heart of Walsall, the spacious new school has been refurbished by Nine Points Property, a specialist commercial developer and landlord focused on the children’s residential care, education and supported living sectors across the UK.
Commenting on the refurbishment, James Blake, Director at Nine Points Property, said, ‘Ryecroft School is a multi-million pound ground up redevelopment of a former school site, designed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for all the pupils. The finished project provides two new teaching wings for separate age groups, each with 6 classrooms, whilst sharing a canteen, gym, therapy and immersion room. The large outdoor space offers engaging opportunities to take learning beyond the classroom, with horticulture and forest school.’
For more information please visit www.ryecroftschool.co.uk.
