WHEN Chalet Special School was founded 37 years ago, it was essentially a day provision service for children who would otherwise be detained in hospital wards.

Now, almost four decades later, it is a thriving establishment that scored 100 per cent for good teaching in a recent Ofsted report.

Twenty-six pupils attend daily, including Joshua Carter, Daniel Gunning and Allen Turner, all five years old, and Saquib Haider, four. Many of the children are involved in a shared placement scheme. Such a system integrates the children into mainstream education, which gives a good grounding for a possible transition from the special school.

Chalet caters for children aged two to seven the youngest pupil currently enrolled is little Saquib Haider but the school will be given a wider scope when it moves to a new site next year.

Headteacher Mary Topping explained: "Over the years the school has changed so much. There are now so many children, this site is simply not big enough.

"We are expecting to be in the new school building at the converted junior school in Liden by next September.

"We are just bursting at the seams here. It will mean we can accommodate another 12 children and the age range will be two to 11."

Mrs Topping is set to celebrate her 20th year as head next year and she still enjoys working there as much as when she first joined.

She said: "The staff are fantastic. It is the staff and children who make this place so tremendous."

Denise Broad, special needs education support assistant, has been with the school for five years.

She said: "We bring the children into the ball pool area first thing as it allows them a chance to play and burn off excess energy. Some come from Highworth so they are on the bus for quite a while and they need a chance to play before quiet class time."

The classroom is structured just like a mainstream school in that there is a timetable that teachers and pupils follow. However, classes are tailor-made to suit each pupil, as the complex learning difficulties vary greatly. The timetables form part of the 'TEACCH' programme, or Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children.

Mrs Broad said: "We use visual timetables and each child has his or her own. They can't process language but do remember pictures.

"Joshua, for example, loves numbers and letters but other children might respond better to Postman Pat or Thomas the Tank Engine. This is what's called narrow interest.

"We need new resources all the time. Toys that promote fine motor skills, which use the fingers, are excellent. Bikes are great for gross motor skills. Anything like that is greatly needed."

Mrs Topping said: "Just to see the look in their eyes is tremendous. For those who aren't as privileged a special present at Christmas makes a big difference."

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