Tai Chi Centre Bounstead Road Colchester could become school

Commercial landlord and developer firm, Nine Points Property, has submitted a planning application to Colchester Council for the change. 

The building, in Bounstead Road, was formerly home to the Taoist Tai Chi Society European Centre.

If successful, the developer plans make it a “day school” which would be operated by Keys, a specialist education provider for children who have “complex needs”.

Area - Bounstead Road (Image: Google Maps) The school would register with Ofsted and have a capacity of 40 pupils.

The 40-pupil capacity would be reached “over a two-to-three-year period”.

A planning statement said: “The school will provide a small but important specialist education resource for children aged 11-16 with special education needs and whose education needs are not able to be met in mainstream schools.

“Their needs often mean that they have learning and communication difficulties.

Planning application - another image of the former Taoist Tai Chi Society European Centre (Image: Google Maps) “The small school will provide the opportunity for children to be educated and supported in small groups by specialist teachers in an appropriate setting, seeking to maximise their learning outcomes.

"The curriculum would be supported by a range of therapists such as speech and language professionals and through “vocational activities to help assist pupils in fully participating in society”.

It is hoped that the school will help meet the “existing and future needs for specialist education in Colchester and surrounding areas”.

As well as “reduce the current number of children who need to travel out of area”.

In the planning application, the school site would have fencing set up, a playground and patio area installed, and the existing car park would be amended to allow for 40 car parking spaces.

A cycle store would be added and alteration works to doors, windows would also be completed if the application is successful.

Berechurch ward Councillor Dave Harris thinks the planning application would be beneficial and that there aren’t many special schools in the city.

The man - Berechurch Ward Councillor Dave Harris (Image: David Harris) He said: “I have looked at the planning application like yourself, I was well aware of the Tai Chi arrangement previously, they have been brilliant up there for many years.

“This school make it a perfect addition to my ward; it is a welcome addition.

“It would be helpful to children who perhaps need extra help.

“I am very keen to hear more, it looks very good.

“I know of lots of families in Colchester who have to send children further way to send schools, this would be local and mean less travelling.”