Ysgol Cambrian opens in Clydach Vale as fifth ALN school in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Ysgol Cambrian in Clydach Vale opened to pupils and staff on Wednesday 4 November, becoming the fifth Additional Learning Needs school in Rhondda Cynon Taf, the council says.

The handover

Contractor Morgan Sindall Construction handed the building to the council last week. Staff used two INSET days on Monday and Tuesday to set up. The school is led by Executive Headteacher Aron Bradley and School Lead Nicola Clark. In September Cover Wales reported that families were still waiting for confirmed opening arrangements.

What the building has

There are 23 classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a wellbeing centre, a trampoline room, outdoor play areas and a rooftop balcony learning area. The school can use a small 4G pitch on the adjacent ground, which is managed by the Cambrian Village Trust, during the day.

Who it is for

The school supports pupils with autistic spectrum disorders, severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and sensory impairments.

Why it was built

The council says the investment responds to a rising number of ALN learners, the growing complexity of pupils' needs and capacity pressure at the four existing ALN schools. It was paid for by the council and Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

Councillor Sharon Rees, the cabinet member for education and young people, said: "Today we're celebrating the first chapter of Ysgol Cambrian, a fantastic new Additional Learning Needs school opening on a first-class new site in Clydach Vale."