Wish to be fulfilled with a special needs school in Dubbo

At the top of Jane Diffey's list was a school and yesterday Mrs Diffey saw her wish fulfilled with an announcement from Mr Grant and NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli.

The multi-million dollar special needs school will be built on the site of the Dubbo West Infants School and will include four specific purpose classrooms.

A Networked Specialist Centre with a range of multipurpose rooms, and shared facilities for the centre such as technology facilities and parking, will also be built.

Mrs Diffey said she never believed her plan would come to fruition and she was extremely proud and grateful to Mr Grant for making it happen.

Mrs Diffey's daughter Clare was diagnosed with rare neurological regressive disorder called Rett Syndrome when she was 18 months old.

"The prospect of sending her to school was very daunting. To have a school that is purpose built for special education is extremely incredible."

Clare died last year but Mrs Diffey said the special needs school will always be Clare's legacy.

Mr Grant said making the special needs school happen could be one of the proudest things he had done in four years.

"Jane Diffey persevered and argued strongly for the need for this school and it's just fantastic," he said.

While a date for the school to be opened hadn't been set, Mr Grant said there would be an initial intake of around 30 to 40 students.

"The school will be home to a specialist centre that will respond to students in rural and remote NSW who require personalised learning and support," Mr Grant said.

"Government and non-government agencies will share expertise and connect with families and schools in Dubbo and across western NSW."

Mr Piccoli said the school was for the children in the community who needed the greatest support.

"I often feel humbled as a minister, or I feel inadequate to make these announcements,' he said.

"It's not my money, it's not the government's money, it's the taxpayers money."

Mr Piccoli said it had always been odd to him that Dubbo hadn't had a special needs school.

As part of the redevelopment, Dubbo West Preschool, Infants and Primary schools will be bought together on the Dubbo West Public School site.

Mr Grant said having everybody on the one campus offered educational and social benefits for students and their families and would be a great asset to the wider community.

Mr Piccoli also gave his support to another item of Mrs Diffey's wish lift- a hydrotherapy pool.

"I just think, not in the immediate future, but as part of the planning it should be considered," Mr Piccoli said.

"We'll see what we can do."