One of the projects being funded is a new fully accessible high ropes course for children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), at our Lea Green Learning and Development Centre.
Lea Green is one of the country’s leading outdoor education and adventurous activity centres, offering a range of inclusive, accessible and challenging outdoor activities.
The high ropes course has been designed to be fully inclusive and accessible for users of all ages and abilities to promote and develop learning and adventure opportunities for young people with SEND.
It will include a fully accessible wheelchair track enabling children with additional mobility limitations easy and safe access over grassed areas in all weather conditions to normalise access to the outdoors and adventurous activities.
Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Alex Dale said:
“I’m very pleased our Cabinet has approved this important funding which allows us to continue our ongoing work to provide improved access for children and young people with SEND at our Lea Green Centre.
"The new facilities at Lea Green will mean that children with SEND have the same opportunities to improve their confidence, resilience and mental health in a unique outdoor setting outside the traditional classroom learning environment.
“And the other four projects will mean much better facilities for students at four of our schools.”
The 4 school projects are:
- Shirebrook Academy: A re-modelling project at the secondary academy for 11 to16-year-olds to create 4 additional teaching spaces and a breakout area. The academy has a net capacity of 850 students with currently 830 on roll with projected numbers of students over the next 3 years set to rise by around 200. The re-modelling project will ensure we can meet our statutory duty to provide sufficient local area school places.
- Eureka Primary School, Swadlincote: To provide funding required to build a new 3-classroom block to ensure we provide sufficient school places in the local area.
- Norbriggs Primary School, Chesterfield: To fund a school expansion project to allow us to provide the required number of places in the local area in line with our statutory duties.
- Thornsett Primary School, New Mills: To fund a new project to build a multi-purpose pavilion in the school grounds.
The pavilion will create an intervention space for children with SEND, a group space and a forest school room.
Testimonials from groups that use Lea Green
Special Friends is a small charity based in Belper which supports around 200 families living nearby who have children with a wide range of additional needs.
Chairperson and Founder Lucy Sarna said:
“Being a special needs family can be incredibly isolating, leading families to feeling cut off, helpless, desperate and alone. It also means that our SEND children, as well as their siblings, miss out on a wide range of experiences and opportunities that other families are able to take for granted.
“Lea Green is a complete game changer for us as they are able to offer adapted resources and equipment, a safe, secure and familiar environment and staff who are skilled in being able to ensure that every child, regardless of their disability, is able to thrive and grow in this space. They offer children the opportunity to experience things they never would be able to otherwise, helping them develop a new sense of self-worth and new possibilities.
“Most importantly, it also gives families a wonderful chance to connect and develop vital, supportive relationships with others, that will continue with them throughout their journey.
“An accessible high ropes course would be an amazing addition to Lea Green, enabling our families and children to take on new challenges together, helping hundreds of young people discover new potential and passion for living. We are very excited about this possibility, and really hope you can help to make it a reality.”
Spectrum Derbyshire
Director/Organiser of Spectrum Derbyshire Gemma Hall said:
“As the director of Spectrum Derbyshire and organiser of the Spectrum Autism Friendly Festivals I cannot stress enough the importance and need for an accessible high ropes course at Lea Green.
“Lea Green is a specialised activity centre who continually aim to cater for all abilities and I have no doubt that with this funding the installation of this equipment will enable hundreds of children the access to an activity that they would not have been able to try ever before.
“I know of many individuals who would relish the opportunity to experience something new, to boost their self-esteem and gain confidence.
“To have this in Derbyshire in our local area is of great importance and allows access for all which is what we all hope for our children who otherwise face many obstacles in the world.”
The full report can be found on the Cabinet meeting agenda, item 5.