A $1 million Kaka St Special School satellite unit has been developed at Papamoa College to give parents greater choice about where to send their special needs children.
The satellite unit was built next to the existing Papamoa College special needs unit to allow the sharing of resources such as toilet blocks and the laundry.
Ten students and six staff were housed in the new unit, with capacity for a total 20 students and 10 staff.
The students, while wearing the college uniform and sharing college resources, were enrolled at Kaka St and staff were employed by the school.
Kaka St principal Barrie Wickens said opening a satellite unit on college grounds gave parents greater choice about where they could send their special needs students.