A BLACKBIRD Leys school still needs to raise almost £16,000 towards new play equipment.

Mabel Prichard School, which cares for children with physical and mental disabilities, needs to raise a total of £20,000 for equipment that its pupils can use.

This includes a new roundabout and special swings that children in wheelchairs can use without being taken out of their chairs.

Jane Wallington, the headteacher of the Cuddesdon Way school, said £4,500 has been raised since the fundraising campaign was launched in March.

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She said: “We have had parents running stalls to sell items at the Blackbird Leys fair and staff have done sponsored runs but it is taking a bit of a long time to get there.

“The children have been helping out and making posters where they can.

“A lot of the children come from deprived areas as well as having a high level of special needs.”

The plan to replace some of the school’s play equipment is part of a series of wider £50,000 improvements to its play area, including the creation of a sensory garden.

There will be raised beds with a wide range of different plants and flowers that the children can appreciate, as well as vegetables that the children can grow.

Ms Wallington said work to raise the money for these parts of the work would start once the cash has been set aside for the play equipment.

She said: “Our big ambition is that once we get the garden open and running it will be a community resource and people will be able to access it and grow their own vegetables. We have got two sites, one in Cuddesdon Way and another at Oxford Academy, and eventually we will have a garden on both sites.”

Mabel Pritchard has 77 pupils on its roll and was rated as good in all areas in its last Ofsted inspection.

  • Anyone wishing to donate should contact the school on 01865 777878 or email headteacher.7020 @mabel-prichard.oxon.sch.uk

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