A SCHOOL for pupils with special educational needs in Bromley borough has been officially opened, formed from the merging of two others.

Riverside School, Main Road, St Paul's Cray is the end result of three years of planning to improve provision for pupils with severe or profound learning difficulties, physical disabilities and autism.

It has taken over the site of Rectory Paddock School thanks to a £5m investment from Bromley Council.

Woodbrook School in Hayne Road, Beckenham was closed this summer and merged with Rectory Paddock’s pupils at the beginning of this term.

The opening ceremony, on October 23, was attended by staff and governors and local dignitaries.

The ribbon was cut by children’s TV presenter, Dave Benson Phillips, who is patron of Makaton which is a form of sign language used within the school.

When councillors were making decisions in 2005 to merge the two schools, parents organised a petition of 2,000 signatures, raising concerns about the closure of Woodbrook School saying the new school was far away.

However, the council pushed forward with the plan as it argued (ARGUING) the pupils would be better served by new facilities at a new school for 160 pupils aged four to 19.

Riverside has three new blocks providing light and large classrooms along with dedicated practical areas to support ICT, art, science and design and technology.

The school also has a hydrotherapy pool, a trampoline, two sensory rooms, a sensory garden, a performing arts hall and equipment for its horticultural unit.

Headteacher, Dr Vivian Hinchcliffe, said: “We are delighted to have come to the end of our building programme and we are rightly proud of our new school.

“Our children and young people with special needs deserve the best start in life and we are committed to provide them with a first class education.”

For more information about the school visit riversideschool.org.uk