Plans to expand South Ayrshire Council’s Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision have been approved.
A planning application was previously submitted, seeking permission for listed building consent in order to re-configure two rooms within Troon Primary School and transform the space into a new ASN base.
Ayrshire Live first revealed the proposals back in September. Planning consent has now been agreed.
According to the application, the plan was to “amend” the existing layout of two rooms on the ground floor to form ASN base classrooms with associated quiet rooms, sensory room, accessible change facility and staff WC.
Refurbishment and decoration works are also planned for the upper rooms within the school.
In a supporting statement, the alterations were required to create “secure and safe teaching spaces for pupils with additional support needs.”
As part of the works, security fencing will be erected to create a secure play area within the playground which the ASN pupils can safely use.
Along with these proposed works, the opportunity will be taken to “amend existing spaces” to refurbish and decorate other rooms at the same time.
One proposal was to alter the position of the reception desk point.
The existing reception desk is located facing into the Main Hall of the school. Upon entering the access doors into the school, it had been noted that visitors could “end up” in the Headteacher’s Office looking for the reception.
As a result it was proposed to move the reception point into the corridor to “improve security” for staff and pupils, and to make the reception “obvious and visible” to visitors to the school.
In terms of the ASN classrooms, these would be formed through the sub-division of an existing staff room and classroom within the school building. Then ancillary spaces to support the ASN classrooms will be created as part of the project. These will include the formation of an accessible change space, sensory room and two quiet rooms.
It is hoped the new ASN facility could accommodate up to 20 young people, depending on their particular needs.
The supporting statement concludes: “Through the redevelopment of existing spaces within Troon Primary School, the intention is to establish an education provision, with supporting accommodation, for the inclusion of children with additional support needs.
“This will deliver many educational benefits for current and future learners at the school and will result in shorter journeys to school for young people who reside in the North of the local authority and have to undertake lengthy taxi journeys to other facilities in Ayr.”
In approving the plan, council papers said: “Given the reasons for the proposed alterations and that the affected areas are not publicly accessible, it is considered that alterations are acceptable changes to the layout, in this instance. Furthermore, the original layout will not be significantly compromised in the long-term.
“Overall, the proposed alterations would not affect the character or special interest of the building.”