A CHADDESLEY Corbett primary school could become home to a new specialist autism base if plans are given the green light.

A planning application has been submitted by Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary School to build an extension to provide an autism specialist teaching unit.

The unit would initially provide a base for ten pupils, aged from 2 to 11, who have been referred by Worcestershire Children First.

The plan’s design and access statement states that the application comes after Worcestershire County Council identified a need for specialist autism unit in the area.

Specialist teaching at the unit would be informed by the expertise and research of Professor Barry Carpenter, the UK’s first professor of Mental Health in Education, who is also a former governor of the Nethercroft Meadow school and a village resident.

A design and access statement for the plan states: “It is clear that CCEPS has the capacity, space and expertise to meet the needs of ASD pupils and offer WCF a unique resource with flexibility for some future expansion and model replicability capacity.”

The building has been designed with a “calming approach” in mind as many of the pupils referred there may have anxiety, ADHT, autism and other conditions within the spectrum.

The unit will also include a therapy/sensory room if approved.

The design and access statement concludes: “The proposed scheme will enable the school to provide the requisite facilities required for specialist learning environment. The extent and design of the proposed extension has been planned to reduce its impact on the overall site layout and to provide an inclusive and harmonious enlargement of the facility and to match the existing.”

The application can be found on the Wyre Forest District Council planning website, under the reference 21/0739/FUL and is open for comments now.