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Charters School   :: Learning Support Centre  

The school motto at Charters School is Unity, Respect, Excellence and these words are fully embodied in the Learning Support Centre, an area within the school that caters specifically for students with a physical disability.

In the early 1980’s at a time when many other schools were unsuitable for students with a physical disability, Charters installed lifts and started a programme of inclusion that was extremely unusual in a comprehensive at that time.

Over the years the school has continued to value every student, creating a specialist centre which includes a physiotherapy bed for alleviating the symptoms of cerebral palsy, hoists to aid toileting and an array of other equipment that allows all students to participate fully in school life.

External specialists including physiotherapists and experts who are trained to help those who are visually or hearing impaired, visit regularly to help students meet their full potential.

The Resource Unit was moved to its present home on the school site in 1992, but completely refurbished in 2015 when it was renamed as the Learning Support Centre.

 

The school held a party on Friday 15 January to recognise the students who regularly benefit from the Centre and the staff who are dedicated to their welfare. Past and present students and staff joined together to celebrate and Richard Pilgrim the Co-Head Teacher gave a speech to thank the guests for coming. The Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christianson, who benefited from the Centre during her time at the school was amongst the guests and her first words on entering the new building were, “Well this has changed!”

Gill Pennells, head of Learning Support said, “It is lovely to welcome back staff members and students who have helped shape the Learning Support Centre over the years and to show them the refurbishment. We are very proud of the Learning Support Centre and the work of all staff members who work here.”