The new school building at Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf in Cardiff will include a sensory garden, community cafe and new performance space
Images have emerged of a new £7.3m school building for children with additional learning needs in Cardiff. Construction on the base at Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, which will have space for 60 pupils, will start next month.
The new facility is being funded through the Welsh Government’s Welsh Medium grant and will provide what the council said is a “safe and inspiring learning environment” for pupils with profound learning needs. It will include a sensory garden, community cafe and new performance space.
The base will be built on the existing school site by Wynne Construction, with work expected to be completed next year. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
During the building work Ysgol Glantaf will remain open, with only some minor internal remodelling required to connect the new base to the existing school.
The new base is designed as an extension to the current school building. It will offer 30 places for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 30 places for pupils with complex learning needs.
Work at the base will focus on enhancing communication, life skills, and drama performance, all delivered through the medium of Welsh.
It will include a shared community space, a kitchen and café, and access to a new performance hall.
The council said: “This will create opportunities for students to develop social enterprise skills through public interaction. Catering and hospitality education will be a central feature, promoting teamwork, communication, and essential life skills.”
The aim is for the community cafe to build partnerships with the local area and pupils across the school.
Cardiff Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for education, Cllr Sarah Merry, said the council has acknowledged the growing number of pupils with complex learning needs, autism spectrum conditions, and emotional health and wellbeing needs in the city.
The council said it is committed to meeting the increased demand for specialist placements for primary and secondary age children. Over the last five years an additional 155 places have been delivered in existing specialist resource bases at schools.
A total of 14 new SRB’s have been established providing up to 256 additional places and there are an additional 332 places in existing special schools.
