Grand Victorian building in Cambridgeshire town could be turned into SEN school

The building was once used as a children’s care home and elderly care home

A grand building that was once a care home could become a new SEN school. Westward House in Bury Road, Ramsey, has stood in its location since the Victorian period. In its past, it has been used as a children’s home and a care home for the elderly. Now, Aspris Children’s Services Limited has proposed to turn the building into a SEN day school.

The company, which doesn’t yet own the building, also seeks to build a single storey extension at the back, make alterations to the existing two-storey rear extension, add additional car parking, new landscaping and also recreation areas. The applicants said if approved, the plans will “secure the long-term future of a valued listed building”. It would also “deliver significant social, educational and community benefits”.

The applicant added: “The proposed change of use to an SEN school directly benefits the local community by providing vital educational infrastructure. It sensitively builds upon the site’s historical legacy of care and child-centric provision.”

Most of the internal floor area inside the building is to remain mostly the same. Works to the original house will be “strictly minimal”. For the rear extension, the internal layout will also be designed to “create highly supervised, adaptable classrooms that meet current SEN standards”.

The rear extension is also proposed to “respect the scale of the original Victorian dwelling”. As part of the recreation part of the plans, a multi-use games area is proposed. This will be linked via a path to the back of the building.

An existing driveway will be used to access the building, but there will be changes made to “improve safety and accessibility”. Dedicated parking spaces for staff, visitors and accessible vehicles are also proposed within the site boundary.

It’s unknown how many pupils the school could accommodate. Applicants Aspris Children’s Services Limited operate a number of schools across the country for children with autism. The schools have “small class sizes, consistent routines and expert staff to form a calm atmosphere where learners can build confidence, grow in independence and prepare for adulthood”.

If approved, this new school will create a “highly structured, low-arousal environment where young people with autism will flourish both academically and emotionally.”