New Priory School is Officially Opened

04/12/09

Mayor of Thetford, Councillor Pam Spencer, joined staff, pupils and guests to conduct the official opening of Sheridan School, a new specialist education facility in Northwold.

Sheridan School, part of Priory Education Services, provides services for children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning difficulties including autism.

Councillor Spencer unveiled the new provision, at a special open day held to mark the school's relocation from Southburgh, near Dereham, to its new larger purpose-built facilities on the site of the former Comfort Inn in Northwold, near Thetford.

With its opening, the school will initially create up to 40 new jobs including teachers and teaching assistants, care support staff, administration, housekeeping and maintenance.

The extended school aims to provide day and boarding facilities for up to 40 students aged 10 to 16 at the new Northwold site, an increase from the 12 it previously catered for.

The school will provide for young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, with associated Iearning difficulties including autistic spectrum disorders. A lack of suitable provision of this type of service has been identified in the region.

Priory Education Services is the UK's leading independent provider of specialist education and care for children and young people aged four to 35 with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) and specific learning difficulties associated with dyslexia.

Councillor Spencer declared the specialist new centre open and Principal Bobby Evans said: "We are delighted that Sheridan House is now officially open and we're thankful to Councillor Spencer for doing the honours.

"She enjoyed meeting the team and looking around the new centre and was very impressed with what it has to offer for the young people.

"The new centre has allowed us to broaden our intake to offer support to young people whose challenging behaviour is due to Autism and who are in need of a safe and supportive environment. Plus we have been able to extend our services to provide for female and day pupils.

"The open day gave visitors the chance to see for themselves what we can provide. We're keen to integrate ourselves into the local community and contribute positively to the parish of Northwold and the open day was part of doing that."

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