A new specialist provision has been officially opened at Teddington School to cater for children and young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

Teddington School, which is run by the Bourne Education Trust, is a co-educational state school for ages 11-18 rated 'Good' by Ofsted. The new provision, funded by Richmond Council, opened up at the school in September with a first cohort of three pupils and will grow in time to accommodate for a maximum of ten.

Pupils will be able to use the provision in a variety of ways; some will access the majority of their learning in the new space, others will mainly learn within the mainstream school and will access occasional lessons and/or therapy in the space. The new facility includes two classrooms, three therapy rooms and an enclosed outdoor games area.

Paul Grills, Headteacher of Teddington School, said: "I am immensely proud to be Headteacher of an inclusive school which houses such a fantastic facility. Over the coming years our aim is to work closely with the SRP staff to ensure the students within the unit receive an excellent education; we look forward to giving them access to not only mainstream lessons but also the wider curriculum offer that will support their learning and development."

The new provision will supplement the additional SEND places established in the last few years by Richmond Council at Windham Nursery, East Sheen Primary, Hampton Hill Junior, Heathfield Infant and Heathfield Junior, Hampton High and Orleans Park secondary school.

Cllr Penny Frost, Chair of the Education and Children's Services Committee, added: "This is fantastic news, as it will enable another ten children with special educational needs to be educated locally, within their home borough, rather than having to travel much further afield.

"Last autumn, Ofsted inspected the school and judged that the standard of education offered at the school is 'good'. This investment builds on that, because it is a sign of the Council's confidence in the ability of the school to provide excellent inclusive education as it improves further towards 'outstanding'.

"I would like to thank the school and the Bourne Education Trust for wholeheartedly embracing the proposal to accommodate a specialist resource provision. I am sure that it will quickly become a highly successful and popular part of the borough's local offer for children and young people with SEND, and SEMH in particular."