SEN schools says they need more classroom space
Ysgol y Deri says they need more classrooms to keep up with the number of children joining each year
Last updated 22nd Nov 2024
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Ysgol y Deri has over 500 pupils across 5 sites in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Chris Britten, the Head Teacher of the school, told us:
"Finding enough classroom space is really difficult."
"I think the challenge for next September will be to find maybe 6 classrooms somewhere, not that easy but we'll try to make it happen somehow."
"From our point of view, we're okay."
"I'm not going to say it's great but we are okay."
"We are struggling for space, we're expanding by a net 40 every year, sometimes net 50."
An ESTYN report in 2022 showed there are 40 maintained SEN schools in Wales teaching almost 5,500 pupils, this is presumed to of increased in recent years.
Ysgol y Deri is the UK's largest SEN school which teaches more than 500 children between 3 and 19 years old.
Stacey is a teacher at the school and told us how the school has changed since she first started.
"It's changed hugely, we've grown obviously so much in numbers but also in our capabilities I think."
"We've seen a lot of changes over the years."
"Seen a lot of people come and go, which is obviously very sad, we'd like to keep everyone forever really."
"We're a big family so we'd like to all stay together, forever."
The school will be celebrating its anniversary with parties for children, parents and staff.