Families Celebrate Start of Work on Centre for H&F's Disabled Youngsters


Time capsule buried on site at Queen's Manor Primary School in Fulham

Pupilsat the school helped to choose the contents of the time capsule which included the day’s papers, the school’s uniform and syllabus, popular children’s books, a picture of the queen and a fidget spinner.

Burial of the capsule was the highlight of Queen's Manor Summer Fair on 17 June.

The new centre is being built at the school in Queensmill Road but will be open to all families living in the borough. Queen’s Manor Primary School’s own support unit for pupils with special educational needs will also be rebuilt and landscaping will be carried out around the school.

The £6million project is being funded by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

The centre will be open throughout the week, including evenings and weekends. It will be designed as a hub for all children with disabilities - a space for children to safely play, as well as a key support for parents in need of information and advice.

Plans include specialist provision for under-fives, play areas with accessible equipment, after-school clubs, health services and other support, training and meeting rooms and space for a wide range of activities.

Queen's Manor School's own support unit for pupils with special educational needs will also be rebuilt and landscaping will be carried out around the school as part of the £6 million project.

"We’re really excited about both the centre and the SEN unit," said Claudine Schapper whose nine-year-old son attends Queen’s Manor.

"It’s really helpful that it’s on the school's premises. My son has autism so at the moment he can’t always join in with after school activities.

"I know parents would jump at the chance to have this new service. One parent I spoke to was reconsidering her decision to move abroad because of it.

"I think it will really improve our lives."

The excitement was echoed by Sonja Harrison, headteacher of Queen's Manor.

"I'm delighted work has begun on these two fantastic new centres," she said. "Young people and their families have been involved in the whole process and I know it will really make a difference to their lives."

You can see lots more happy pictures from the day on H&F Council's Flickr Gallery.

June 29, 2017