A second bid to expand and improve facilities at a special needs school deemed "not fit for purpose" has been given the go-ahead. 

The revised plans for Joseph Clarke School in Vincent Road, Highams Park, were submitted last month following further consultation carried out by members of the Whitehall Academy Trust, which runs the school. 

Now, the centre of excellence centre for the visually impaired in the south east can start work to demolish two temporary classrooms and build a two-storey block, a new reception area with ramp access, on-site sensory room and a new re-located playground.  

The Trust received a grant from the Targeted Basic Needs Programme to improve facilities at the Highams Park site with a focus on increasing its current pupil intake of 97 to 140. 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Principal Elaine Colquhoun of the Trust described the site as no longer "fit for purpose" and suggested the revised proposals "sat comfortably with the neighbourhood". 

She described the pressures on Waltham Forest and London as a whole to provide more spaces for children with special education needs as "immense".  

Cabinet member for children councillor Mark Rusling, agreed by saying "there is not enough places for these young people in Waltham Forest and without expanding these schools, young people will be forced to leave the borough."

However, Waltham Forest council received several objections from neighbours living to the west of the site in Vincent Road and Silverdale Road, who argued increased pupil intake, will lead to more traffic and the redevelopment is excessive in size and will overshadow properties. 

Parent governor Jackie Willis's 13 year-old daughter, Sarah, has been attending Joseph Clarke since the age of three. 

"We desperately need a new building. It's old with out-dated mobile huts, has insufficient space and inadequate facilities. 

"This is a unique opportunity to give the children the beautiful building they deserve.

Ms Colquhoun thanks everyone for their support. 

"We’re absolutely delighted. This is a new opportunity to further develop the school, building on its rich history and providing more places for children. 

"I would like to thank both the councillors and the local residents who gave us their support."

Headteacher Maureen Duncan said the school would be be able to "offer the very best education for young people with visual impairment and complex needs for decades to come."

At present, the school's minibuses block the carriageway and wait in the lay-by and turning area of Vincent Road, but under the plans six will be parked on-site in Vincent Road and five on-site in Silverdale Road.

Joseph Clarke attracts pupils with special needs from across twelve London boroughs, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire.