A FREE school for children with special needs is just one year away from opening and the site is set to leave a legacy for generations to come.

The opening in 12 months’ time of Middlesbrough’s first free school for children with special educational needs will leave a legacy for local children and families “for generations to come”, says the school’s CEO.

The town’s mayor Andy Preston paid a visit to the site, alongside the former Nature’s World, to take part in a ceremonial sod-cutting ceremony with staff and pupils to mark the one-year-from-opening milestone.

With building well on the way by the Department for Education’s contractors, Tilbury Douglas, Middlesbrough’s first free school for children with special educational needs is set to open in September 2022.

Described as a “trail-blazing beacon for local education”, Discovery Special School will provide a specialist educational provision for more than 100 children aged 4-11 with complex and significant learning, communication, physical and medical needs.

Part of Tees Valley Education Multi Academy Trust, Discovery will help to meet an increasing demand for special needs education places and facilities across Middlesbrough and the neighbouring Redcar & Cleveland region.

Built on Sandy Flatts Lane in Acklam, Discovery will one of the Government’s flagship free schools.

More than 80 children currently attend Discovery within high-quality temporary facilities on the site of Brambles Primary Academy on Kedward Avenue in Middlesbrough.

The academy will feature a therapy suite including sensory integration therapy, a physiotherapy room, soft play, light and sound therapy and rebound therapy.

Outdoor learning will also be a big feature to encourage exploration and supported risk-taking.

The school will be built on part of the land covered by the former Nature’s World attraction and voluntary group The Friends of Nature’s World is working with the academy to develop sensory gardens at the school and within the remaining Nature’s World area.

Tees Valley Education CEO Katrina Morley said: “The ability to serve up to 100 children in a purpose-built, special, free school will leave a legacy for Middlesbrough."