A vacant building in Keynsham, previously known as Charlton House Care Home, is poised for a new chapter as a special school catering to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Charlton House, which has stood empty for the past two years, was closed by Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2024 following a critical 2022 Care Quality Commission report highlighting preventable harm to residents. Having operated the care home for only four years, the council opted to close the facility and explore alternative uses for the site.
Now, the council’s planning committee is preparing to decide on a proposal to convert the spacious, modern building into a high-quality, inclusive educational facility. The planned special school aims to serve around 30 pupils, offering specialist classrooms, therapy rooms, sensory spaces, and calm breakout areas designed to support diverse learning needs.
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This development addresses a pressing shortage of special school places in the Bath area, which currently forces the council to spend approximately £10 million annually transporting children to distant schools, some located as far as northern Oxfordshire. By keeping children closer to home, the new school will provide both practical and emotional benefits for families.
Beyond the educational facilities, the redevelopment includes converting the building’s first floor into two self-contained residential homes for children. Each home will accommodate four children and feature dedicated kitchen and dining areas, lounges, and staff quarters to ensure comfortable, supportive living environments.
Council planning officers have recommended approval of the plans, signaling a promising step towards meeting local special education needs while repurposing an underutilized site for community benefit.