Culverhill School

A YATE school for children with complex learning difficulties has been awarded specialist status.

Culverhill School has 130 pupils and has become a specialist college with expertise in communication and interaction, reported the Bristol Evening Post.

It will now share its good practice with other similar schools, also receiving £100,000 to spend on a new communication and training suite.

A further £180,000 spread over three years will go towards training and disability awareness schemes in conjunction with other schools and the community, new ICT equipment and extra speech and language therapy support.

Headteacher Nicki Jones said: "The Department for Children, Schools and Families has recognised the excellent work that the school has been doing and now want us to share our expertise with other schools and the community.

"We are grateful to the charities Wooden Spoon and the Rachel Charitable Trust, as well as the school's parent teacher association, for raising the necessary private sponsorship to make the bid possible."

Sheila Cook, South Gloucestershire Council's executive member for children and young people, said: "It will bring benefits to the school and other schools will be able to learn good practice from it."