Seven years, three prime ministers and one dream later, a new site for a Dunedin school for children with special needs has been opened.
Sara Cohen School cut the ribbon on its Riselaw Rd site in Dunedin yesterday with Education Minister Erica Stanford in attendance.
The school features a purpose-built playground with a non-climbable fence, wheelchair swing, a hydrotherapy pool and sensory room.
Principal Matt Tofia said it had taken six years to build the new school and it felt "unbelievable" it was finally there.
"I couldn’t have imagined something as good as what we have got.
"I’m very proud and excited for our students."
Sara Cohen was about giving its students the opportunity to participate in the world, he said.
The purpose-built facility helped students achieve and better emotionally regulate themselves because of its infrastructure.
He had noticed their ability to emotionally regulate had improved by about 50%.
The school has about 70 students.
The Ministry of Education had announced that Sara Cohen would get three extra teaching spaces next door to the new facility in Riselaw Rd.
They were completely refurbished, so they were "pretty much plug and play", Mr Tofia said.
Ms Stanford said specialist schools were being included in the network planning budgets by the government for the first time.
In last year’s budget, $70 million was ring-fenced for additional classrooms and school rebuilds.
Another $30 million was put aside this year to build more satellite classrooms, which was used to refurbish Sara Cohen’s three additional classrooms.
The school’s playground was also available to families who had children with special needs.
Each family would receive an access key to let them into the playground.
Board of trustees chairwoman Sharon Oliver said it felt "unreal" to stand on the playground and watch the children playing.
Her son, who has autism, had learnt a lot during his time at Sara Cohen.
He was now living in a residential facility and the skills he had learnt at the school were benefiting him hugely.
She was looking forward to bringing him to the Riselaw Rd facility’s playground.
"All of this playground is really fit for children with autism."
Sara Cohen music therapist Dennis Kahui said the school gave the children a lot more opportunities.
"By the time they exit, they have enough to function in society."
