Hans Price officially opens the Maple Hub
Hans Price Academy has celebrated the formal opening of the Maple Hub, a specialist resource base designed to support students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) whose primary need is speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) or autism.
The new provision was formally opened in the presence of staff, academy council members, trust colleagues and community partners who have supported the project from its earliest stages.
The Maple Hub has been developed to provide a highly inclusive, nurturing and supportive environment where students can access bespoke interventions, targeted teaching and specialist support, while continuing to benefit from being part of the wider Hans Price Academy community.
It aims to help students develop confidence, communication skills, independence and positive relationships, ensuring they can thrive both academically and personally.
Speaking at the opening, Kerry Mullinder, SENDCo at Hans Price Academy, reflected on the journey that led to the creation of the hub.
She said: “The Maple Hub began as a vision to enhance the support available for some of our most vulnerable students. Today, seeing that vision become a reality is incredibly rewarding. This provision represents our commitment to ensuring every young person feels understood, supported and valued, regardless of the barriers they may face.”
The academy is already seeing positive outcomes from students accessing the provision. Improved engagement with learning, increased confidence, stronger communication skills and positive relationships with peers and staff are just some of the early successes being observed.
The name Maple was carefully chosen to reflect the qualities of strength, resilience, growth and adaptability. These are qualities that staff hope to nurture in every student who accesses the base.
The academy also took the opportunity to thank the many organisations whose expertise, support and commitment helped bring the project from concept to reality. Special thanks were given to AtkinsRéalis, North Somerset Council, Cabot Learning Federation, Western Build, Damass Ltd and CGA Architects, whose collaborative approach and shared commitment to inclusion have been instrumental in creating this outstanding facility.
“This has been a true partnership project,” Kerry added. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in this vision and supported us on the journey.
“The Maple Hub exists because of the dedication, passion and shared commitment of so many people who wanted to improve outcomes for young people with additional needs. Together, we have created something that will positively impact the lives of students and families for many years to come.”
The official opening was conducted by Tony Searle, Education Director at Hans Price’s parent trust the Cabot Learning Federation. Tony’s extensive background in inclusion and SEND has helped shape educational opportunities for countless young people throughout his career.
As the Maple Hub begins its next chapter, Hans Price Academy is looking forward to the lasting impact the provision will have on current and future generations of students. By combining specialist support with high aspirations, the academy hopes the hub will enable young people with speech, language and communication needs and autism to flourish, achieve their potential and feel a true sense of belonging within their school community.
The opening of the Maple Hub marks a significant milestone for Hans Price Academy and reflects its ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive environment where every student can belong, succeed and thrive.
Councillor Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Families, Skills and Lifelong Learning said: “It’s wonderful to have joined the official opening of the new Resource Base at Hans Price Academy.
“This new resource base is inclusive and perfectly suited to students with social communicational language needs/autism and emotional-based school avoidance.
“All children will need to have an EHC plan to access the resource base and will follow the normal EHC consultation process, which will be overseen by the North Somerset Council SEND department.
“The successful delivery of projects like this new base are critical as we respond to North Somerset’s growing need for SEN provision, supporting young people and their families to learn and thrive.
“I would like to thank all of our partners who have worked closely with us to reach this opening milestone and look forward to seeing what the future holds for everyone who now sees it benefit.”
