We were delighted to welcome donors to Treloar’s on Wednesday 18 June for the official “ribbon cutting” to celebrate the new Bradbury Learning Centre. It was wonderful to welcome supporters who had helped make the Centre a reality and show them how students are benefiting.
During the event, Martin Ingram, CEO and Principal at Treloar’s, thanked donors as without their valuable support we would not have been able to undertake this major project, which was fully funded by our supporters. It was vital to create a new centre to meet the ever-changing needs of our disabled students. It is at the heart of the campus and is very popular with all of our students.
Head Student for Treloar School Mac undertook the ribbon cutting, with representatives from the Bradbury Foundation and Constable Educational Trust holding the ribbon. There was much excitement as the ribbon dropped and the doors magically opened! Guests were taken on a tour of this state-of-the-art facility, which was completed this year and is benefiting students from the school and college.
Our wonderful students and staff skillfully demonstrated the Immersive Room, engaging our guests with an interactive version of the story “Going on a Bear Hunt” (with Makaton narrated by one of our speech and language therapists). The guests also enjoyed heading under the sea and experiencing a tropical forest, where they created butterflies simply by touching the walls. It was evident for all present that this space is endlessly flexible and can be educational as well as fun and relaxing.
Students demonstrated the eSports area with PE teacher Pablo Pecellin Romero. eSports is a growing sector and several students are undertaking an eSports qualification, where they are learning important life skills like communication, leadership and team work. It was important for us to include eSports in the Centre as it is an area where our students can compete on a level playing field with their non-disabled peers.
Visitors also saw the new library which our students helped to design. Apart from an updated selection of books (many accompanied by Story Sacks with items helping to illustrate the story), the library offers Tonies and Voxblock. These innovative devices read books aloud when a token is placed on top of them, which is more accessible for our students.
The Centre also is home to our green screen facilities, switch toys, an interactive sand pit and a robotic arm.
The new Centre is not only an important part of curriculum learning, it also provides a flexible and engaging space during break times and after school or college for our residential students.
Bradbury Learning Centre was funded by charitable trusts (including the Bradbury Foundation and Constable Educational Trust), individuals and East Hampshire District Council. We are grateful for all of the support we received for this exciting project.
Continually upgrading our facilities to meet our students’ changing and increasingly complex needs is an integral part of our strategy to further our excellence as a school and college for physically disabled young people.
If you are interested to visit to find out more about our work and explore how you might be able to help, please get in touch on 01420 547445 or fundraising@treloar.org.uk
