THE eagerly-awaited expansion of a North Somerset school for children with profound and complex learning needs has opened.

Pupils, parents and staff celebrated the opening of the development at the Baytree School in Clevedon with a special cake.

The expansion will help the authority tackle a growing need for SEND school places, giving more young people access to schooling in their area.

The Clevedon building takes Baytree from a single site, catering for 72 children, to two sites – the other in Weston -super-Mare – offering around 120 places.

The opening comes after Baytree secured an outstanding Ofsted report, with inspectors commenting on the quality of care and education provided to their learners across both sites.

Pupils are already settling in to the new surroundings, which features adaptations including integral hoists for children with limited mobility, a hydrotherapy pool, sensory rooms and provision across a single storey for those unable to use stairs.

Councillor Catherine Gibbons, deputy leader of North Somerset Council and executive member for children’s services, said: “The expansion of Baytree is vital as we support our SEN community, offering children with profound and complex difficulties a setting that’s perfect for their needs.

“To see children already settling into their new surroundings really drives homes just how important this project is.

“It’s clear the difference that the school will make in the lives of these children, their families and the school staff who now have everything they need for a calm and caring learning environment.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in making the expansion of Baytree a reality, along with Willmott Dixon and the school staff, as well as everyone from our SEN community who helped shape the standard of facilities now available.

“This school is a genuine achievement and one that support children and families for many years to come, leading by example as we continue to promote inclusion and accessibility in Clevedon and across North Somerset as a whole.”

Ed Bowen-Roberts, headteacher at Baytree School, said: “I’m delighted that, after years in the making, we have opened this incredible school expansion to our learners – they all love it’s truly wonderful facilities.

“The facilities will massively benefit our learners and support our work in delivering the best provision we can. It’s has been a real team effort to get to this point and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.”

Rob Woolcock, director at building contractor Willmott Dixon, said the firm had provided pupils with a memento of the opening.

“We are incredibly proud to be delivering what we call ‘brilliant buildings’ embedded in local communities,” he said.

“We know the positive impact that Baytree School is already having on the lives of all those who use it. Collaboration, partnership and inclusion were important factors for us during the construction of the school.

“As a token of our thanks and to commemorate the school opening, we have presented the first group of learners with a special Baytree keyring by which to remember the day, as well as a cake to celebrate the journey they have joined us on.”

Beyond the school boundary, streets and pavements have been resurfaced to ensure ease of access and improve the space fr residents.