John Perry Primary School has won permission for the extension which is set to accommodate children with special needs, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter
A primary school in Dagenham could soon have two new classrooms built after getting planning permission from Barking and Dagenham Council.
John Perry Primary School in Charles Road wants to build a rear extension to house new special educational needs and disabilities (Send) classrooms.
Proposals submitted to the council say that “there is currently inadequate room to facilitate the number of send students at the school”.
Plans for the single-storey extension were submitted to the council in February.
A planning statement included with the application said the extension would “function as a modern, purpose-built send area to expand the school’s facilities”.
It said: “This design focuses on creating more space for send students to learn in, where there are not currently sufficient spaces available.
“This will significantly enhance the overall learning experience for students.”
In addition to the two new classrooms, the extension will also house store rooms, wash rooms, a “hygiene room” and an outdoor play area covered by a canopy.
A council planning officers report said: “The development would also facilitate the conversion of the existing office and part of the corridor to the south of the extension into a sensory room, regulation room and office.
“This helps achieve the school’s aim to provide more Send classrooms/spaces to provide dedicated areas for learning, specialist support, and regulation/sensory rooms to help regulate the mental / physical stresses suffered by send children, as there is currently inadequate room to facilitate the number of Send students at the school.”
Plans say the new extension will be an infill in a void in the current building, within the school’s internal courtyard.
They also say it will be finished in brickwork to match the surrounding walls of the school.
Council officers approved the application on Wednesday, 29th April.
Their report said: “Due to a shortage of school places in the borough as a whole, the need for expansion of existing schools is widely recognised and is seen as essential in order to address the growing population of school age children living in the borough.
“The proposal contributes a direct expansion and enhancement to the school facilities, and the use of the school, as it will help them meet their needs and aims.”
