New soft playroom to benefit children with complex needs

Phillip Potter with Bob Rogers at the opening of the new playroom

Wooden Spoon Sussex – a grant-making charity helping disadvantaged and disabled young people through rugby – opened a new soft playroom at the community college, in The Boulevard, Durrington, last Tuesday.

It will provide special education for pupils with learning difficulties aged between 11 and 19.

Representatives from the charity and the Sussex rugby fraternity joined staff, pupils and parents to watch the charity’s chairman, Bob Rogers, open the facility.

Mr Rogers said the charity was ‘extremely pleased’ to be able to support the college.

Phillip Potter, Oak Grove College’s head teacher, thanked the charity for funding the new project and spoke about the need for the community to work together to promote the learning and holistic development needs of those with the most complex learning needs.

The area will enable students with complex learning needs to have more sensory learning experiences and an additional environment in which to play.

Business manager at the school, Sharon Kettlewell, said: “We are immensely grateful to The Wooden Spoon Charity and the soft play room will make an immediate impact on the quality of what we provide to our students.”

Since 2005, the charity has raised more than £300,000 for the sporting community in the county.