PLANS have been unveiled for a major extension at a primary school which Ofsted has rated as outstanding for pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare.

Blueprints have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for a 337sq m extension at the 2.2-hectare Red Hall Primary School site as part of the authority’s drive to increase provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

New resource bases will be attached to existing Darlington schools so that children and young people can access specialist provision alongside mainstream in line with Darlington’s inclusive objectives for SEND children. The school was built in the early 1970s and serves the Red Hall estate from nursery level through to Year 6 and currently has 210 pupils, 11 full-time and 17 part-time staff.

The extension will see up to 16 SEND pupils have lessons in two classrooms, and there will also be three smaller spaces for sensory provision and break out space for therapeutic work, as well as a secure line between the unit and the mainstream school.

The extension will also feature a kitchen, toilets and a shower area, an office, and a central communal area. There will also be additional play area space to replace the development area.

The council is aiming to create places for 32 SEND pupils at two mainstream secondary schools in the borough.