KENT - ETHELBERT ROAD INFANT SCHOOL,
FAVERSHAM. £20,000 TOWARDS £27,400
FOR A PLAYGROUND
This school in Faversham is unusual in that it is a
mixed mainstream/special-needs school with over
46% of special-needs and socially-disadvantaged
pupils. Inclusion is a strong culture in the school
and the teaching skills are geared up to provide
appropriate support to the pupils with special
needs, whilst not detracting from the progress of
the mainstream children. The result is a boosting of
self-esteem and self-confidence for the former and
a better understanding in the latter than might be
the case.
Ethelbert Road caters for 80 4-7 year-olds, mostly
from the town, in four classes. The 27 special-
needs children have a wide range of physical and
mental disabilities and there are eight more with
recognised social disadvantage.
Former RFU President, Robert Horner officially
opened the new play area in July funded by the
Opposite: HRH Princess Royal unveils DEVON - EXETER RFC Kent Committee. The children sang a selection of
the Spoon plaque to commemorate
£40,000 WHEELCHAIR FACILITIES IN THE songs, including pirate songs that was
the opening of the new wheelchair
facilities at Sandy Park, home to
WEST STAND accompanied by their own pirates made from
Exeter Chiefs.
Wooden Spoons. Groups of youngsters from each
Above: Gareth Chilcott at the
Exeter RFC, a top National Division One rugby club of the classes went up on stage to thank Spoon. It
Wheelchair facility opening with Greg
an Exeter Chief supporter awaiting the
has recently completed the construction of a new was a wonderful afternoon for everyone present.
arrival of HRH. ground at Sandy Park. The main West Stand has Head Teacher, Samantha Fenn thanked Wooden
two banks of seating, of which the lower bank Spoon and said: “This beautiful playground has
comprises positions for two wheelchairs at the end had a major impact on everyone here.”
of each of the five sections, 20 places in all and a The new playground facilities include a
seat for each carer. These facilities have been wheelchair roundabout and other great features
funded by Wooden Spoon Devon. The wheelchair that can be used by both able bodied children and
spaces will ensure that the many passionate those with special needs, ensuring interactive play.
supporters of the Chiefs will be able to attend
home games regardless of their disabilities.
In June. HRH The Princess Royal officially opened NORTHAMPTONSHIRE & NORTH BUCKS -
Sandy Park and unveiled the new wheelchair NORTHGATE SCHOOL, NORTHAMPTON
facilities. She dedicated a hour of her time to £16,000 FOR A PEOPLE-CARRIER ADAPTED
Spoon receiving a tour of the new and impressive FOR WHEELCHAIR-USE
stadium and chatted to people who knew, and
had played with, her son Peter, when he turned Northgate School caters for children between the
out for Exeter. ages of 11 and 16 with MLD and SLD, including
Teams of school children played in the tag rugby those with sight and/or hearing impairments and
tournament final keenly watched by Spoon’s Royal other physical disabilities. It now has 80 full-time
Patron and the children were visibly moved to be pupils, plus five full-time and six part-time
accepting their medals from Princess Anne herself. attendees from mainstream schools on a
HRH demonstrated how supportive she is of Spoon temporary basis.
and her consummate professionalism and everyone Northgate’s pupil profile has been changing over
thoroughly enjoyed the royal occasion. the last few years. As experienced across the
country when more children are included in
Spoon Devon ensured the day was a great success mainstream schools, so the general level of
providing a display of all 14 projects completed to seriousness of disabilities in special-needs schools
date as well as laying on lunch followed by the has increased. Northgate now has many
Wooden Spoon Devon Business Lecture (more can wheelchair-users whereas previously it had none
be read about this on page 9). Consequently the but still has limited facilities to support their needs,
attendees at the project opening read like a Devon including transportation to allow the children to
Who’s Who including Eric Dancer, Lord Lieutenant accompany their classmates on school outings and
of Devon, and the Devon County Council team, activities away from the school.
Team Devon Committee members and In July, Ben Cohen, former Saints player and a
“THIS BEAUTIFUL representatives from the Devon Corporate Rugby World Cup winner in 2003, handed over
PLAYGROUND HAS HAD A Marketing Partners. the keys to Shez Webb, Headmistress and the
MAJOR IMPACT ON children of Northgate. Regional Chairman, Tony
EVERYONE HERE.” Exeter Chiefs have been pushing to reach the Galloni and Phillip Blunden one of Spoon’s
Premiership for several years now and the new Trustees, were on hand to lend their support.
HEAD TEACHER, SAMANTHA stand will go a long way towards reaching the Tony said, “This our first completed project in the
FENN. ETHELBERT ROAD INFANT statutory requirement for a club to play at the top Region. Northgate School needed a vehicle to
SCHOOL level. enable their growing number of wheelchair pupils
Spoonews Autumn 2007 11
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