Sky Vale School has opened, providing space for 45 pupils with special educational needs(Image: Sky Vale School)
A new school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has opened just outside Bristol.
Sky Vale School, in Redhill in North Somerset, welcomed its first students in January.
The independent school has capacity for 45 students between the ages of six and eighteen, with a particular focus on children who have experienced trauma.
Headteacher Mark Kennedy said he was “delighted” to welcome the first pupils and see the “school come to life”. He added: “Five Rivers Child Care looks forward to seeing the school continue to grow, providing a safe, supportive and aspirational environment for children who need specialist educational provision. We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact that this new school will have on children, families and local authorities across the region”.
Sky Vale is part of the Five Rivers group, which runs eight specialist schools for children with complex needs and also provides a fostering network and care homes.
The school’s building features traditional classrooms, dedicated breakout and therapeutic spaces and even a swimming pool. All have been designed to give “children a sense of safety, belonging and enjoyment in learning,” a school spokesperson said.
Places at the school are not cheap; the annual fees for day pupils are £93,600, according to the school’s pre-opening Ofsted inspection. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the average cost for SEND pupils at independent specialist schools is £61,500 per year.
Staff at Sky Vale have been specially trained in how to respond to young people who have experienced childhood trauma. An external therapist also visits the school each week to consult with staff and students alike.
Chris Sweeney, head of education at Five Rivers, said: “Sky Vale School reflects our commitment to providing trauma responsive, high quality education for children who need something different from mainstream settings… we believe every child deserves access to an environment where they can heal, learn and thrive.”
The school’s curriculum follows the national curriculum and is tailored to each child’s needs, with opportunities to work towards GCSEs and other accredited qualifications.
Last May, North Somerset Council announced the creation of a new dedicated SEND resource at Gordano School in Portishead which, from September 2026, will increase the number of places for SEND pupils in the county by a further 25.
In Bristol, more than 500 new school places are planned for SEND pupils by 2030.
