A NEW Chester city centre school for SEND pupils is to launch its residential offering this spring. Abbey School for Exceptional Children, located in Chester Cathedral s historic grounds, will be accommodating children aged eight to 19. It follows the transformational refurbishment of a building called Abbey Green at the school. The residential provision caters for children with autism who may have additional learning difficulties and behaviours that challenge, and who require a residential placement that offers 24/7 support. The residential accommodation will be located in beautiful mews properties that overlook Chester’s ancient falconry and city walls, enabling children and young people to benefit from being located in a tranquil space within the community with easy access to everything Chester has to offer.
DEAN of Chester, the Venerable Dr Tim Stratford has joined city leaders in celebrating the launch of a new world-class centre of excellence for children with Special Educational Needs in Chester. Abbey School for Exceptional Children, a day and residential school that caters for children and young persons aged four to 19 years with a diagnosis of autism and/or severe learning difficulties, opened this academic year. The state-of-the-art school is based in a Grade II listed building in the grounds of Chester Cathedral that has been transformed following an extensive, and sensitive refurbishment. Over 200 new jobs are being created by the school, which is staffed by a highly trained multi-disciplinary team.
A BANGOR University professor is to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) after being included on the New Year Honours List. Professor Alexander (Sandy) Toogood, an Honorary Professor at Bangor University’s School of Education, has been rewarded for services to people with intellectual disabilities. Prof Toogood, from Ruthin, a former senior lecturer in Behavioural Analysis and is now honorary professor in the School of Education. He said: “Receiving an award is a humbling experience for most and very often a stimulus for reflecting on the wonderful work being done by one’s friends and colleagues. Increasingly, people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities are finding new ways to contribute to society, which is more inclusive now than when I started in the field forty years ago.