PUPILS are settling into life at a new specialist school.

Springfield School Wilmslow opened its doors for the first time last month.

It is a satellite of the specialist school in Crewe which supports students with severe learning difficulties and complex needs.

The new facility, supported by Cheshire East Council, will create an additional 80 places across the district for children aged four to 18.

Head teacher Lisa Hodgkinson said: “We have been working closely with Cheshire East Council over a number of years to increase specialist places for children with cognition and learning difficulties at our site in Crewe.

“We were absolutely delighted to open the doors to our new satellite school in Wilmslow.

“The school will offer a further 80 places for children across Cheshire East from age four to 18.”

Knutsford Guardian: The school takes over the former Dean Row Day CentreThe school takes over the former Dean Row Day Centre (Image: Springfield School)

She added: “We understand how much the provision is needed within Cheshire East to support young people and their families.

"Conlon contractors have been amazing to work with and really understood what we needed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for our young people.

“The first two classes have settled into their new school exceptionally well and we look forward to gradually increasing numbers over the next 12 months.”

Plans to increase the capacity of Springfield School have been in the works for a number of years.

The new satellite school takes over the site formerly home to Dean Row Day Centre.

A planning application for the change of use and refurbishment was approved in November 2022.

It officially opened for the first time on Thursday (January 25).

Meanwhile, at the school in Crewe, work is underway on an extension which was approved in December 2022.

This development will see new classrooms created along with a remodelling of the existing kitchen and changes to the car park, allowing the school to accommodate 60 additional pupils.

The majority of the metal work for the structure of the extension is now complete, with budding bricklayer and Springfield student Jaydon laying the first brick at the end of January.