Proposal for a new special school in Milton Keynes

The school, off Daubeney Gate, would take up to 70 pupils aged seven to 12 years with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, from schools across Milton Keynes.

The intention is that children will be collected from and returned to their schools by mini bus every day and that after a spell at the Daubeney Gate School they will be capable of being fully integrated back into their local school.

Parking provision at the new school,which is normally a hot issue around all schools in Milton Keynes, is therefore low as it is not expected that parents will be dropping off their children.

The school will be run on “Forest School “ principles involving a lot of outdoor teaching and children will be encouraged to interact with and learn about the environment.

Conservative ward Cllr Andy Dransfield welcomed the proposal for this this much needed facility.

However Mr Dransfield raised a concern about the number of parking spaces provided which does not appear to be sufficient if the school runs at a full capacity of 70 pupils, even if children all arrive by mini bus.

“Whilst I am very supportive of this application, I would like the Committee to carefully consider whether parking provision is adequate into the long term when the school is operating at full capacity,” he said.

“Now is the time to make sure we get this right.”