A PRIMARY school is hoping to build an “autism base” to offer crucial help and support for children with additional needs.

Blenheim Primary School - off Blenheim Chase in Leigh - has revealed a proposal to build two new classrooms, changing rooms, a sensory room, as well as a “quiet area” away from the main school building.

If approved by Southend Council, the new building will become a “autism resource base” to help provide the “very best support” to children while keeping them in mainstream education.

The school is part of the Learning in Harmony Academy, which includes Greenways Primary School and Temple Sutton where similar buildings have been created.

Trust executive leader for special educational needs and disability (Send), Ashley Eastwood, said: “The new resource base already provides support for a number of children and will accommodate up to 12 children when the building opens.

“We have also opened these recourse bases at Greenways Primary School and Temple Sutton Primary School.

“Our trust is committed to providing the very best support to every child and ensuring all our mainstream settings have access to the wide breadth of Send expertise available in our special schools and provision annexes.

“This enables us to provide every child with the support they need to flourish.”

The location of the new build is set away from the noisier parts of the playground .

There would also be a secure outside play space included for children at the autism resource base.

The sensory room will give children the option of using a calming area from the main space.

The plans added: “The proposed new autism resource base building seeks to deliver a highly sustainable, high-quality development that will contribute positively towards the school site and effectively provide for the future needs of children with autism at Blenheim Primary School.”