Plans for Hartlepool school unit to teach children with learning difficulties

Plans have been lodged to use a mobile unit at a Hartlepool secondary school for additional teaching space for children with moderate learning difficulties in the town.
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Proposals have been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council to retain a demountable classroom at High Tunstall College of Science to provide additional support to pupils in the town.

Submitted by Kelly Armstrong, from the council child and adult services department, proposals would see the unit be used as a classroom once more from September 2021.

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High Tunstall College of ScienceHigh Tunstall College of Science
High Tunstall College of Science

A planning statement, from Dave Kelly, building consultancy at the council, outlined how the proposals would support children with additional needs across Hartlepool.

It said: “The building was used for teaching purposes from its installation up until the new main school building was completed in 2019.

“Since then the mobile unit has been used for storage of teaching equipment and furniture.

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“The mobile unit is now required for additional teaching space for children with moderate learning difficulties due to a shortfall of spaces in other Hartlepool schools.”

The proposals would include refurbishing the existing building, including minor repair works and general maintenance, together with the installation of toilet facilities for both pupils and staff.

The site would be home to two classrooms if approval is granted, according to proposals.

The planning statement added the council is looking to secure permission to retain the building in its current location until April 2032.

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It said: “It is generally felt that this type of modular building has a useful lifespan of approximately 20-25 years depending on the initial specification.

“Therefore we would ask for permission to carry out the refurbishment works and retain the building in its current location until April 2032.”

The mobile classroom has been on site since 2009, however the initial planning approval for the building was only for a period of five years.

It was then not felt the building was suitable for permanent retention, according to the planning statement, and therefore required a further application in 2014 to extend the approval.

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A decision is expected to be made on the proposals by the council planning department by the end of June.

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