Page 14 - link magazine

14 The Link Magazine • February 2006
Getting ready for another move - 21 years after the last
A Swindon special school is preparing for a smooth transition to new state of the art premises in Priory Vale.
Brimble Hill School, which relo- ing out the logistics of the move. will be Red Oak Primary School
cated to Park North from "It's a very exciting period for which will open in September and
Wroughton in November 1985 will everybody associated with the North Swindon's secondary
be one of four schools located at school," said Bob. "We'vebeende- school, River View Community
the North Swindon Learning Cam- ciding what we will take with us School, which opens in 2007.
pus next to the Redhouse Village and what will be bought new. Be- To help the special needs chil-
Centre. Staff cannot wait to move ing a special school, we've been dren adjust, artists will be work-
in during the summer holidays working closely with the architects ing in both Brimble Hill and Up-
ready for a September start. to ensure the colour scheme and lands on art with a transition
However whilst the present fa- other features will help children theme, before they move and after
cilities are well past their sell by find their way around easily." they start in Priory Vale.
date, the new school has yet to Brimble Hill educates some 70 The architects are consulting
have its roof put on. But primary age children and will be staff on the right kind of outdoor
headteacher Bob Walker has been moving into a building next to play equipment to be installed.
assured that completion will be on Uplands Special School for 75 sec- The school will also have a lead-
time and he and his staff are work- ondary age children. Also on site ing edge sensory room for chil- Looking forward to neu' school in Priory
dren with visual impairment and Vale, Bob Walker and Alison Paul
physical disabilities. Bob said, feature for deputy headteacher
4 "over the years we've developed Alison Paul who is a governor at
NumberSense DIY sensory stimulation facilities, Red Oaks. "I'm delighted that Terri
so it's going to be fantastic to have Menham from Peatmoor Primary
a room designed by Mike Ayres, has been appointed headteacher.
Maths and English the leading specialist in sensory The opportunity to develop rela-
environments. We're looking for- tionships with the primary and
After School Learning Centre '
ward to having a hydrotherapy secondary schools is very exciting.
for 6 to 16 years olds pool on site which means we can The interaction between children
use time more efficiently." and staff is going to be beneficial to
Align to the school curriculum using a modular The links with the two main- everybody in the schools and also
stream schools next door is a key across the whole community."
programme which allows selection of topics

Call Richard Bell on 08000 283720
www.numbersense.co.uk

Could you be an advocate for learning?
The Swindon Learning Ambassadors project has grown in the town
over the last three years and now covers three Neighbourhood Re-
newal areas: Penhill, Parks & East Walcot, Central area and Pinehurst
& Moredon.
Learning Ambassadors are all check on progress, encouraging
adults who have recently taken learners and celebrating their suc-
steps back into learning and are cess.
suited to be peer motivators. They The team in Moredon and
usually live and work within their Pinehurst is the latest to be set up
own communities and can success- and is keen to hear from anyone in
fully reach out to potential learn- the area who wants to talk about a
ers that education professionals course idea. If you're an individual
find harder to reach. or a group of friends who would
They do this by providing infor- like to learn something new to-
mation and guidance on opportu- gether in a local venue, call the
nities to learn at a local level, meet- local LAs. The courses are gener-
ing people informally. ally two hours per week for up to
This can mean arranging an ini- 5 weeks, and are usually free, of-
tial meeting to talk about needs, ten with a creche.
discussing courses, checking out For details contact Carol
transport or childcare facilities and Harrison on 512446 or 07765
accompanying nervous people to 567696.
a course. They keep in touch and www.la-swindon.org.uk