20/12/22
 
Exciting plans for Moorland Primary School in Splott, are to be progressed following recommendations to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet to release funding so that the scheme can get underway early in the new year.

In July 2022, the Cabinet agreed to establish a 20 place Specialist Resource Base at Moorland Primary School for pupils with Complex Learning Needs. This is part of a significant city-wide programme to expand provision, improve the standard of facilities and help to meet demand for special school places for primary and secondary age learners by more than 270, right across Cardiff.

The redevelopment of the school would also allow for the replacement of the Early Years Unit which is in essential need of updating and a replacement Flying start provision, subject to Ministerial approval for the enhanced Flying Start Welsh Government contribution.

The Flying Start provision would increase from 32 to 44 with 8 childcare spaces for 3 and 4 year olds and would allow children to move over from the current site at Willows high School which is to be relocated and rebuilt on land off Lewis Road in 2025.

Further works included in the Moorland Primary School development would include;

• Providing a crèche and community room for parenting and community use
• Demolishing the care takers house

Now agreed, delays on implementing the SRB provision will be avoided and addressing the condition of the current school estate to ensure its suitability meet the demands of 21^st century learning can move forward.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “The redevelopment of Moorland Primary School will present a wealth of exciting opportunities for the school and help to meet the needs of its community.

"The scheme will represent a significant investment in the Splott area and would bring forward a truly community focussed campus. A new early years unit would address suitability issues of the current provision and a new Flying Start site would provide the community with beneficial facilities such as a community room for parenting courses and a creche facility, also for use of the school and community out of hours.”

“Additionally, as one of several schemes to help transform the provision of special and additional learning needs education in Cardiff, Moorland Primary School would boost modern, state of the art learning environment, not only helping to address a shortfall in places but also helping to spread the facilities right across the city.

The full report is available to read here:  Agenda for Cabinet on Thursday, 15th December, 2022, 2.00 pm : Cardiff Council (moderngov.co.uk)

Proposals for Moorland Primary School was the focus of December’s School Organisation Planning Task & Finish Group which has been formed by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Elected members received a full update and considered Cabinet’s proposals to implement the recommendations.

In a letter, Lee Bridgeman, the chair of the committee, thanked officers for the open discussion when considering this matter. “On behalf of the Committee,” he said, “The Task & Finish Group commend the report to Cabinet for consideration.”

You can read the full letter to Cabinet here: https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/documents/b19970/Correspondence%20following%20Committee%20Meeting%2013th-Dec-2022%2016.30%20Children%20and%20Young%20People%20Scrutiny%20.pdf?T=9&LLL=0