The former Children's Centre is now part of the school site.
The new provision has been created in the former Blossoms Children's Centre building, which sits alongside the school. The building has been transformed, with walls removed to create larger teaching spaces, gates taken down to connect it to the main school site and plans for a dedicated sensory room.
The SRP, which will be called The Lighthouse, will provide places for up to 14 children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The provision is designed to enable pupils to access specialist support while remaining part of the wider school community, helping them to thrive academically, socially and emotionally within a mainstream school setting.
Inside the building rooms are being converted to create larger teaching spaces.
Natalie Luxford, Headteacher at The Downs Church of England Primary School, said:
"The Downs is a welcoming and inclusive school where we want every child to feel valued, supported and able to thrive. Opening The Lighthouse is an exciting step for us, as it means we can support more children and families from our local community and give them the opportunity to learn and grow alongside their peers.
We believe that learning should be full of joyful experiences that allows each child to flourish, and we're delighted to be opening this new provision."
“The transformation of the former Blossoms Children's Centre demonstrates how we can make the best use of existing buildings to create high-quality specialist education spaces, without the need for children to make lengthy journeys to special schools for the same support.”
Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Beverley Fordham, visited the site last week to see the work being done to transform the building. Speaking after the visit, she said:
"Every child deserves access to the right support, in the right place, at the right time. This new Specialist Resource Provision at The Downs Primary School will create more opportunities for children with SEND to learn closer to home and as part of their local community.
"The transformation of the former Blossoms Children's Centre demonstrates how we can make the best use of existing buildings to create high-quality specialist education spaces, without the need for children to make lengthy journeys to special schools for the same support.
"This is just one of a number of projects across Kent that are increasing specialist provision and helping more children and young people access the education and support they need to thrive."
The new SRP is part of Kent County Council's ongoing programme to increase specialist educational provision across the county, creating additional places for children and young people with SEND and supporting more families to access suitable education closer to home.
