PLANS have been submitted for a new school for children with special educational needs in Bury.

Kedleston Group ­— which runs a number of specialist schools across England ­— has applied to Bury Council for permission to transform Wellington House, in Wellington Street, into a day school for up to 50 children.

The site was most recently used as offices, but could be given a new lease of life if the plans are approved.

Under the plans, the site will provide a mixture of teaching, welfare, administration and circulation space over two floors in two buildings, with car parking at the side and rear of the site.

Lee Reed, chief operating officer at Kedleston Group, said the company hoped to provide 'a small and specialist learning environment for young people affected by social, emotional and mental health difficulties and those with an autistic spectrum condition'.

He added: “Should we be successful in gaining planning permission for the school, we would be able to provide places for up to 50 children, in key stages two, three and four, in a specially-designed and state-of-the-art learning environment which has been developed to meet the needs of children and young people with complex learning and support needs."

Mr Reed told the Bury Times that the school would create about 50 teaching and support jobs.

He added: “When we create schools such as this, we look closely at the need for specialist educational placements in the local area.

“Our aim is to enable local children to access the specialist education they need closer to home, reducing the need for them to travel significant distances out of area to school. Given its location, our preferred site in Bury would offer this opportunity to children and their families across Greater Manchester.

“The focus of the school will be to help children gain the skills they need to be ready for life outside of school – preparing them for further education, training or work. The site gives great opportunities to support our aim to provide - alongside academic qualifications - a range of skills training and vocational courses to help young people be ready for employment and to enhance the local economy. ”

A separate planning application is expected to be submitted to introduce a soft play and landscaped areas at the rear of the site.