A SPECIALIST school in Bere Alston has made a substantial investment of nearly £1-million to expand and enrich the experience of young people who live there.

Priory Education Services' Chelfham School has created new self-contained living units across both its Bere Alston and Kilworthy sites which further improve its ability to equip young people with vital life skills.

It has transformed the residential accommodation by developing eight homely units with a relaxed domestic atmosphere, featuring facilities, including a kitchen, lounge and dining area.

Each site is home for up to 16 young people living in small, family sized units, who now are being encouraged to enhance their life skills. With the support of staff dedicated to their unit, they will be cooking for themselves and also negotiating and managing a food budget.

Investment at the school also included the opening of Coombe House, which accommodates up to seven young people and is staffed by a highly-trained team, including on-site counsellors, therapists and support workers.

This team will work together to balance academic achievement with equipping the young people with key life skills such as decision-making, communicating, time-management and planning.

The Georgian house, which provides two comfortable lounges, a kitchen and a number of bedrooms with en-suite facilities, has extensive grounds providing recreational activities, including the opportunity for students to grow their own vegetables.

The school has an established wellbeing team with a multi-disciplinary initiative encompassing education, care and therapeutic staff, who will provide the type of support to its young people that parents and a family would provide.

Andy Clark, principal at Chelfham School, said: 'Our on-going programme of investment is focused on providing high quality education and care, and creating a homely and inspiring environment to provide our learners with the opportunities to develop their knowledge, social and emotional wellbeing, and life skills that will enable them to achieve their full potential within society.'

Chelfham School is an independent specialist day and residential school for boys and girls aged seven to 19-years-old who have complex learning difficulties, including behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and autism.

The school specialises in working with its young people in developing their progress in all areas such as education and acquiring appropriate social, independence and living skills.

A student at the school said: 'I really enjoy being at Chelfham, where I have made a lot of friends. The staff are lovely and have helped me learn to look after myself including tidying my room. They also have helped me become more confident.

'The range of out-of school activities is fantastic and I go horse riding once a week, which I love.

'I have taken part in a dressage competition where I was thrilled to finish third.

'My ambition is to become a midwife and I hope with Chelfham's support that I am able to achieve that.'