Sunningdale SEND School – Steel Signing Event

Our £13.3m Sunningdale SEND School is taking shape with the steel frame starting to be erected. To mark this project milestone, a steel signing event has recently taken place with pupils, staff and guests making their mark on one of the building’s framework girders.

Sunningdale is a school for children with severe learning and physical difficulties, designed for 120 pupils and to have provision for 16 nursery places. The new Sunningdale school has total floor space equivalent to around two football pitches, bigger class rooms, extra hall and therapy provisions including rebound therapy, hydrotherapy, light and sensory facilities and soft play. Every class will have a storage area for the mobility equipment that may be needed for the pupils with physical disabilities.

The project replaces outdated facilities at the school’s old site in Springwell and is due to open for the next academic year in September 2022.

Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills, Councillor Louise Farthing said: “I think we can all agree that children and students deserve the very best education and the very best facilities. Sunningdale looks after some of the city’s most vulnerable young people. These are children who absolutely deserve this investment as it will allow them to enjoy a stimulating environment that is built to meet their needs.

There is exceptional care and support from everyone at the school and the new building and all its facilities will ensure that pupils are supported with the very best. It’s a great honour to be here today making our mark, quite literally, as we sign the steel and look to Sunningdale’s opening in 2022.”

Enjoying the signing and site tour with pupils, headteacher James Waller said: “It was amazing to see the site and spend time with the children there. The sense of awe and wonder that the children experienced being on the site and surrounded by the open structure of the building was amazing.

They were so proud to sign the steel frame and enjoyed seeing the large machinery in operation. It helped build a real sense of ownership for them of their new school.

The school is constantly evolving and growing. The new building will have the space and facilities to continue to grow and develop our provision for some of the city’s most vulnerable (but amazing) children.

It has been fantastic to work in partnership with both Kier and the City Council to develop the building and facilities. They have been so responsive to our needs and requests. All of the staff and pupils are really excited and looking forward to moving in in September 2022.”