'Huge opportunity' as new special needs school opens

Hill View School will teach five to 16 year olds who have a range of conditions

A new state-funded school designed to support pupils with social, speech and mental health conditions has opened.

Hill View School, based in the village of Ash near Yeovil, welcomed 60 pupils on Monday aged between five to 16. By 2026, it will teach twice as many.

Somerset Council said demand for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) places has doubled over the past few years.

Leana, whose autistic son will attend the school, said it was "a huge opportunity for children to actually learn in the right environment".

Every classroom will have 10 learners and three members of staff with a dedicated sensory space, group room and their own outdoor area.

Head teacher Stu Lambert said the school's "learners need something a little bit different".

"They need to not necessarily be sat at a desk doing maths. But they can bring maths out to the chickens," he added.

Head teacher Stu Lambert said he is incredibly excited to open up the school and see the passion of his staff in action

Mr Lambert added that the important thing is that the curriculum is right and appropriate for the young people attending, and the staff around them are capable of supporting their needs.

The school also has chickens, two dogs and a petting shed.

Student Ethan and his mum Leana are delighted to secure a place at the school

Ethan, 11, from Yeovil, has ADHD and autism.

His mum Leana said Hill View was the only school that could cater for his needs.

She added it was "a huge opportunity" for the children to become the "young adults they deserve, with the education that they are entitled to".

Hill View has a mixture of primary and secondary school classrooms and facilities like music rooms and a library that both age groups will share

Leana said they had to fight for Ethan's place because there are not enough special needs school places in Somerset.

The council's lead for children, families and education councillor Heather Shearer said the number of children requiring SEND places has increased because of the impact of the pandemic and more awareness.

"Every decision we make is a real tough decision.

"Every time we give one child a place, that's another child that's denied a place," she said.