Giant Steps’ footprint expands as they grow

Sharon Webb

GIANT STEPS in Deloraine is at capacity and has submitted plans for two new classrooms to Meander Valley Council as the first stage of a five stage development.

The development plans coincide with the school’s purchase of the neighbouring property at 35 W Church Street.

Principal Tim Chugg said, ‘That block connects to our existing block and fills in part of a rectangle.
Our current playground hooks behind it.’

‘We’ve grown from three classrooms to four but those four are now full and we envisage we’ll have to add another class’, he said.

‘We need a lot of space to create a calm, roomy environment for our students.’

The five stages of the proposed Giant Steps development allow room to grow.

1 Two new classrooms incorporating a break-out room and a kitchen/dining facility.

2 The refurbishment of Tower Hill Cottage to house a speech therapy facility and the redevelopment of an existing classroom into a new library.

3 The major refurbishment of the Drill Hall for a new classroom.

4 The demolition of the Savage River building and construction of a new classroom, as well as provision of a performing arts / music room and the provision of three staff offices.

5 The modification of an existing classroom to incorporate a new kitchen / dining area and a breakout room.

Giant Steps caters for children on the autism spectrum.

Currently 45 students attend the school.

One third of the students’ families live in Launceston, another third in the Meander Valley and the rest are from the north-west coast.

‘Many students come to Giant Steps after having trouble attending mainstream schools’, Mr Chugg said.

‘Recently, each year, one or two families have relocated here from interstate. Not just for their children to attend Giant Steps, but that is a factor in the move.

‘This year two families have come here and another will arrive soon.’