Merton visitors tour new facilities at Bedelsford Chaucer Centre

Bedelsford Chaucer Centre was pleased to welcome Councillor Sally Kenny, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education and Beverley Hendricks, the Executive Director for Children, Lifelong Learning and Families, from Merton Council for a tour of the school and to see the new facilities.

They were delighted to see how well the children have all settled and how the use of the space is evolving to meet the needs of the cohort. They met staff and pupils as they visited classrooms. They were also interested to see the therapy rooms being used by class groups and for one-to-one sessions. They visited the new outdoor adventure playground and were impressed to see how the site is adapting and evolving to meet the needs of the pupils. 

Councillor Kenny, said “We are delighted to see the Bedelsford Chaucer Centre becoming an established setting within the borough, adding to the number of state-funded special schools Merton provides. It means we can offer more high quality, tailored support to more children with additional needs right here in Merton, near to children’s homes and their families.”

Lynn Barratt, Executive Director of Development at Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, said, “This has been a truly collaborative project between everyone at the school, the trust and Merton Council and we are delighted to be working with the London Borough of Merton to meet the demand for high quality special education needs places in the borough.”

Julia James, Executive Director Quality and Standards for the Trust, said, “It has been fantastic to see the children engage and explore their new environment and resources so positively across curriculum areas. Children have developed positive and trusting relationships with the staff team and we look forward to continuing to enhance our provision through further development of learning areas such as the new outdoor play facilities.”

Sadie Cawood, head of school said, “We are excited to grow the provision here at Bedelsford Chaucer Centre and continue to adapt the space and evolve to meet the needs of our pupils.”