The opening of The Lighthouse marks an exciting and important development for St Edmund’s and reflects our commitment to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to belong, achieve and flourish.

The new Specialist Resource Provision has been carefully designed to provide a nurturing, highly supportive environment for pupils who require a more specialist approach to their education.

The Lighthouse has capacity for up to 20 pupils, with two dedicated teaching spaces – Opal and Pearl – alongside areas designed to support individual and small-group learning, regulation and therapeutic work.

Each class is supported by a dedicated teacher and teaching assistants, with pupils also benefiting from access to specialist professionals including Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology and Occupational Therapy.

Importantly, children attending The Lighthouse remain very much part of the wider St Edmund’s family. Wherever appropriate, pupils will learn, play, worship and take part in activities alongside their peers across the school, while also having access to the specialist environment and support they need.

The provision is led by Mrs Kirk-Watson, supported by a skilled team of teaching assistants, who have worked hard to prepare the new classrooms and welcome the first children into The Lighthouse.

The opening follows significant planning and investment and represents a further step in developing inclusive provision across St Edmund’s and the wider MAST family of schools.

Headteacher James Johnson said:

“The opening of The Lighthouse is a very special moment for St Edmund’s. We want every child who joins our school to feel that they belong and that they are understood, supported and able to succeed. The Lighthouse gives us a wonderful opportunity to provide specialist support while ensuring children remain at the heart of our wider school community.”

We are incredibly proud of the new provision and look forward to seeing The Lighthouse grow and develop over the months and years ahead.