A group which runs a Congleton school for children with special educational needs has applied for planning permission to set up a satellite site in Wilmslow.

The Esland Group is responsible for three schools in Congleton, Bedford and Grantham for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

It has applied to Cheshire East Council for permission to change the use of the nursery and offices at Summerfields Nursery And Education Centre on Dean Row for a private school.

If permission is granted, this would be a satellite site for the Congleton school and take up to 50 pupils.

The Wilmslow nursery which is 8,933 sq ft, was constructed in 1997.

In a letter submitted with the planning application Esland's director of education, Simon Reynolds said: "The Esland Group provides bespoke education opportunities for children, aged eight to 18 years, with special educational needs.

"The Wilmslow School will be a satellite school to our provision in Congleton.

"The new site will enable us to better meet the needs of our SEN pupils.

"The additional space that the new site will provide will be a hugely positive feature and the nature of the building with the outside space will provide opportunities to further broaden the curriculum offer."

He added: "There is a significant need for the provision of special education within Cheshire East and the surrounding local authorities and, by establishing an education provision at the Wilmslow site, we will be able to increase our offer of bespoke education to support vulnerable young people from local communities."

It is the second satellite special needs school planned for Wilmslow in a week.

This proposal is completely separate from, and has no connection with, plans by Springfield School in Crewe to expand on to a different, council-owned site in Wilmslow.

Last Monday (July 12) Cheshire's East children and families committee agreed the recommendations to approve the proposed expansion of Springfield School on to the satellite site at Wilmslow.

Please click here to read more about that Crewe school hoping to expand on Wilmslow's Dean Row.

However, this current proposal, which is also a satellite site from elsewhere in Cheshire, still in the early stages.

No planning application has yet been submitted for the Springfield School scheme.

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