WORK BEGINS ON NEW EDUCATION FACILITY IN LEICESTERSHIRE

EXCITEMENT is brewing around Hinckley now work has begun on improved facilities at a special school which will benefit the whole community.

Construction of a new specially-equipped building for Dorothy Goodman Special School recently started, which, once completed will house state of the art amenities for pupils aged 11-19.

A ground-breaking ceremony took place to celebrate work starting on the new building, which was attended by representatives from the school and companies involved with its’ construction. This included Midlands based main contractor G F Tomlinson and construction partners Grayling Thomas Architects, Ian Harban Consulting Engineers and Hadland Manning Bullock.

Headteacher at Dorothy Goodman, Janet Thompson said: “I am delighted work has started on our new building, which will be an excellent additional resource for the school. It has been designed to include specialist rooms that will support the pupils’ education and provide a broad range of activities to support their development. Everyone at the school is very excited work has started on the site.”

Construction of the special school’s new building is set to take approximately one year, with parents, pupils, local residents and businesses set to be informed about the scheme’s progression through regular online communication and newsletters.

Lee Perkins, contracts manager at G F Tomlinson said: “The new building is a significant build for Dorothy Goodman School that will provide a central hub for pupils and teaching staff to learn in and enjoy. It will be a fantastic addition to the school and G F Tomlinson is proud to be working on such a community led project that will benefit so many families in Leicestershire.”

Janet continued: “We support our pupils by not only teaching skills, such as reading and writing in a classroom environment, but also by showing them how to carry out everyday tasks including cooking and gardening. Speech therapy, physiotherapy, sensory spaces along with soft play areas and music sessions are also offered to pupils to provide them with an enjoyable yet practical experience at Dorothy Goodman. Our school is a lifeline for many families in the Hinckley area and the new building will be an important addition to the community which will enhance local children’s education and social skills even further.”

Dorothy Goodman is a Specialist School which caters for its 270 pupils aged between 3 and 19 years with a wide range of learning disabilities. To meet the diverse needs of pupils, teaching is provided across its two main sites and three satellite units within local mainstream schools.