Latest news with #HeolGoffa
ITV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Carmarthenshire Council commits to replacing Llanelli's Ysgol Heol Goffa as two options mooted
Carmarthenshire Council has committed to replacing Llanelli's only special school, after proposals which were years in the making were last year scrapped due to rising costs. Ysgol Heol Goffa was established in the early 1970s and accommodates 75 pupils, but it cannot meet the current demand for education provision for children with additional learning needs. Plans to build a new school to replace Ysgol Heol Goffa were first announced eight years ago in 2017, after an inspection found that the learning environment was "adequate" and "areas of the school building, limit significantly the range of learning opportunities that can take place on site". But last year the local authority decided not to press ahead with the plans, citing increasing project costs. That decision sparked anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of ALN provision in the Llanelli area. The review's findings were published in February this year, with six potential options presented. At a meeting on Monday, 16 June, the Plaid Cymru-run council's cabinet decided it will consider two of those options, which both include a new school and increased ALN provision. The two options being considered are: Building a new 150-pupil special school, and develop proposals to build one primary and one secondary specialist centre for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions attached to mainstream schools. Building a new 250-pupil special school to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions. Councillors have asked council officers for further details on feasibility and costs before making a final decision "as soon as possible". Darren Price, leader of Carmarthenshire Council, told ITV Cymru Wales: "Clearly, we are facing increased demand for ALN provision across the county. "It's no different to other parts of Wales, but what we recognise is we need to invest in new, modern facilities, to deliver that ALN provision in the town." Asked if there will be a new building for Heol Goffa, Cllr Price said: "Absolutely. "The previous proposal that we had in Llanelli was for a 120-pupil school for Heol Goffa. The work that (consultant) David Davies has carried out on our behalf has shown that that school would have been too small on day one, so there's a need to go to at least 150 pupils for any new provision. "We absolutely understand the frustration that's been felt by school staff, pupils and parents and the wider community and we want to get this decision done as soon as possible so we can get on and invest in those key provisions for Llanelli. "Heol Goffa and ALN provision in Llanelli is a key priority for us... Heol Goffa is certainly at the top of the agenda and it's one of the schools we want to be investing in as soon as possible." Asked if families would have to wait another eight years for a new, bigger school building, he said: "Absolutely not. That certainly isn't the intention. We want to proceed as soon as possible." As for confidence in funding being there to invest in new school infrastructure, the council leader said: "Certainly, we've got concerns in terms of the funding envelope we have as a council in terms of investing, in terms of our school estate. "That's no different to any other council. I think there are frustrations across the country in terms of how much money we've got to invest in capital schemes, and that of course is why we've had to review the situation with Heol Goffa. "We've got a fixed level of funding that we can invest in terms of schools and there's a duty on us to look at that funding in the most diligent way possible, but one thing we are absolutely clear on is that the provision of ALN facilities in Llanelli is a top priority for the council and we hope to see progress on that as soon as possible." In response, the leader of the Labour group at Carmarthenshire Council, Deryk Cundy, said he was furious that no hard and fast timeline for the new school had been agreed. "They have kicked this into the long grass yet again," Cllr Cundy said. "They just can't seem to make a decision. "It's a kick in the teeth for the parents. All the time they are delaying, the prices for building a new school are going up and up." School campaigner and Lliedi ward town councillor Shaun Greaney said: "I'm frightened the delays could actually jeopardise the whole project. "Labour has committed to funding 75 per cent of the total cost from Welsh Government, but we don't know what will happen at the Senedd elections next year.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Special school options announced after protests
Two options for a new special school are to be investigated after protests over a council's decision not to replace the existing over-subscribed special school. About 300 campaigners marched through Llanelli in September claiming Carmarthenshire council broke a promise to fund a new building for Ysgol Heol Goffa. The council, which u-turned on plans to shut the school last year, said it was looking at either a 150-pupil school, or one with a capacity of 250. Campaigners called the announcement "really positive". A replacement school was first proposed several years ago at the former Draka copperworks site in Llanelli. The council decided not to press ahead with it last year citing soaring project costs. People with learning disabilities 'locked up' Call for talks over additional needs school U-turn 'Brutal' restraint of autistic boy in calming room The decision sparked dismay and anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the Llanelli area. The review's findings were published in February outlining six options for the school and ALN locally. The ones that are to be explored further are two of the six. Glynog Davies, Plaid Cymru cabinet member for education, said he would propose to cabinet colleagues they further investigate the two options and that whichever one was chosen the proposed replacement Heol Goffa would be larger than the one that was shelved. "The original plan that many had pressed for would have resulted in a smaller school, which would have been full on day one," he said. "Following the independent report we commissioned by David Davies, a former ALN head, I'll be recommending either a 150-capacity Heol Goffa school on one site, with primary and secondary specialist centres for a total of 115 pupils with autistic spectrum condition attached to mainstream schools, or a new ALN school for 250 pupils, to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum condition. "Despite huge financial pressures, we are determined to ensure the very best provision for ALN pupils in the Llanelli area, future-proofed for decades to come. I'm asking for more definite costings and, as always, we will engage with Welsh government to ensure funding for the scheme," he added. Chairwoman of campaign group Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee and a parent of a pupil at the school, said: "The local authority has acknowledged we do need a new school. That's fantastic. "The action committee is really pushing for a 250-pupil school." Ysgol Heol Goffa is over-subscribed, she said, and had a big waiting list with the demand for ALN education increasing. "We don't want to be in this position again in 10 years' time," she said. The independent review described "an exponential rise" in the number of children and young people with autistic spectrum condition over the last decade. He added the growth of young people identified with ALN was unprecedented in Wales. "There is no doubt that the learning environment at Ysgol Heol Goffa is not currently fit for purpose and that this must be addressed," the report added. Tech giving Welsh accents back to disabled people Pupils mocked and put in headlocks by school staff NHS home care gaps leave families feeling stranded
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Major update on long-awaited new special school in Llanelli
Major update on long-awaited new special school in Llanelli Two options, both resulting in a new school, are to be explored further Ysgol Heol Goffa, Llanelli (Image: Richard Youle ) Two options for a new special school in Llanelli are to be investigated, a senior councillor has said. One option would be a 150-pupil school; the other a 250-pupil school. Both options would result in a larger provision than the current over-subscribed Ysgol Heol Goffa. A replacement Ysgol Heol Goffa was proposed several years ago at the former Draka copperworks site, Llanelli, but the council decided not to press ahead with it last year citing soaring project costs. The decision sparked dismay and anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the Llanelli area. The review's findings were published in February outlining six options for the school and ALN locally. The ones that are to be explored further are two of the six. Cllr Glynog Davies, Plaid cabinet member for education, said he will propose to cabinet colleagues that they further investigate the two options and that whichever one is chosen the proposed replacement Heol Goffa will be larger than the one that was shelved. "The original plan that many had pressed for would have resulted in a smaller school, which would have been full on day one,' said Cllr Davies. "Following the independent report we commissioned by David Davies, a former ALN head, I'll be recommending either a 150-capacity Heol Goffa school on one site, with primary and secondary specialist centres for a total of 115 pupils with autistic spectrum condition attached to mainstream schools, or a new ALN school for 250 pupils, to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum condition." Article continues below He added: "Despite huge financial pressures, we are determined to ensure the very best provision for ALN pupils in the Llanelli area, future-proofed for decades to come. I'm asking for more definite costings and, as always, we will engage with Welsh Government to ensure funding for the scheme." Cllr Davies said he'd hoped to make his recommendation to cabinet in May, but the process has been delayed due to electoral law as there is a county council by-election in Llanelli's Lliedi ward on May 29. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here Hannah Coles, chairwoman of campaign group Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee and a parent of a pupil at the school, described Cllr Davies's announcement as "really positive". She said: "The local authority has acknowledged we do need a new school. That's fantastic. The action committee is really pushing for a 250-pupil school." She said Ysgol Heol Goffa was over-subscribed, had a big waiting list and that the demand for ALN education - not just in Carmarthenshire - was increasing. "We don't want to be in this position again in 10 years' time," she said. The independent review carried out by consultant Mr Davies - formerly head of additional learning needs (ALN) and well-being at Vale of Glamorgan Council - said there had been "an exponential rise" in the number of children and young people with autistic spectrum condition over the last decade throughout Wales and beyond. He added that the growth of young people identified with ALN was unprecedented in Wales. Mr Davies' report said only one contractor had expressed an interest in building the replacement school planned at the former Draka copperworks site and that the costs quoted to build it were significantly higher than expected. He said Ysgol Heol Goffa was supported very well by the Llanelli community, who "are clearly very proud" of it, and highly regarded by parents and carers. There have long been concerns about its physical condition though. His report said: "There is no doubt that the learning environment at Ysgol Heol Goffa is not currently fit for purpose and that this must be addressed." Article continues below
