A specialist day and residential school for children and young people with autism in North Yorkshire has been saved from potential closure after it was acquired by specialist care and education provider Cambian Group.
Cambian has promised significant investment to ‘transform’ the now-renamed Cambian Spring Hill School in Ripon, which was previously run by Barnardo’s.
Director of Barnardo’s East Region, Steve Oversby, welcomed the news: “This acquisition by Cambian ensures that the school will not have to close so we are delighted that the long-term sustainability of Spring Hill School has been secured,” he said.
“Cambian Spring Hill School will provide a vital high quality education service to Yorkshire and the North of England. It offers a calming, homely environment which aims to create the ideal setting for young people with autism and associated complex needs.”
Cambian has extensive experience in specialist education for children with autism, and enrolled students will benefit from a model of education and care aligned to Cambian’s special education school, Purbeck View School in Dorset. The investment will allow students with autism who also have associated complex needs and challenging behaviour to access resources, such as the support of a dedicated therapy team.
This acquisition further expands Cambian’s network of specialist autism education services, which is spread across 286 purpose-designed facilities located in England and Wales, comprising 26 schools, 38 hospitals, 219 specialist homes and 3 fostering offices.
Anne Marie Carrie, CEO of Cambian Group’s children’s services, added: “This is a very exciting time for Cambian as we expand our network of leading special needs education services across the UK. Cambian Spring Hill School provides us with a clear opportunity to establish a significant presence in the North of England.
“Our investment will allow us to build on the great work already achieved by students and dedicated staff at the school and are committed to ensuring that every young person in our care achieves their personal best.”
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