Melksham House (pictured above) will soon be home to pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs as it helps address a need for more SEND places in Wiltshire.
Melksham House is expected to open next year as a primary school for SEMH needs (aged 4-11), as well as an alternative provision for children and young people up to 19 years old. The council has commenced the process to find a provider to deliver education for Wiltshire learners. No specific timeframe can be confirmed on when precisely the school will open, but the council will share more details soon.
The new school is part of an expanding network of places for young people with SEND across Wiltshire to help meet growing demand and ensure all young people have an opportunity to thrive.
Melksham House will meet the need for specialist education for learners in West Wiltshire. It offers more children and young people the opportunity to have their specialist education needs met closer to home, within Wiltshire.
It follows an earlier announcement there will be a 130-pupil school in Wiltshire for SEND and the development of the free school at the SAIL academy in the south. Silverwood School is also having an additional investment to extend the existing campus to provide a high quality provision for 350 pupils.
The proposal will bring the site back into use for a key social need. The council’s business case estimated that there will be significant annual revenue savings in the process, meaning money can be re-invested into key services.
This project marks another significant investment into Melksham, following last year’s opening of the hugely popular Melksham Community Campus. Wiltshire Council has formally notified Melksham Town Council of the plans and will also look to have constructive dialogue with them soon on the future of the old Blue Pool site.
Initially, the council was planning to convert Melksham House into office and community space but given there is a significant demand and need for this type of school across the county it was decided this approach was the best value for money option, which follows a period of due diligence.