MEMBERS of the public are being asked to give their views on plans to expand Newport’s only school dedicated to youngsters with special needs.

Newport City Council is proposing to offer an additional 50 places for pupils at Maes Ebbw School, which serves children from three years to 19 years whose special education needs (SEN) requires specialist provision.

This is due to a growing need for specialist education delivery across the city which, according to a report, has grown “significantly over the past five to 10 years”.

The demand has also meant that the school; can no longer hold the number of children currently on roll, with the school oversubscribed by 29 pupils.

The council are proposing seven new classrooms, a sensory courtyard along with toilets, a hygiene room, two group rooms and storage areas. These new facilities will cover all year groups, from nursery to Year 13.

But the council claim there is scope for expansion at the Maesglas Road site to reduce pressure on the school.

A report reads: “The main school shares a site with Maesglas Primary School and has the necessary space available to support the development of additional facilities without any detrimental impact on provision at either school, and indeed at any other school within the city.

“This proposal will benefit pupils across the whole of the Newport as additional facilitates will be provided to support children who have specialist needs in an appropriate and secure environment.”

Aside from the main school, there are also two satellite schools under the Maes Ebbw umbrella - including Maes Ebbw Bach in Eveswell, and Maes Ebbw in Brynglas.

Pupils being taught at the latter school will now transfer to the new 48-place Ysgol Bryn Derw specialist school for children who have autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) after it opened this month.

The council are offering two drop-in sessions at the school for people directly affected by the plans on Wednesday, September 20 from 9.30am to 11.30am and on Tuesday, September 26 from 4pm to 6pm.

Residents will be able to give their views until the formal consultation period ends at midnight on Sunday, October 22.

For more information on the consultation, visit http://tinyurl.com/ybwvdxbd.