Bradbury House, with eight individual bedrooms, five of them ensuite and suitable for a wheelchair user, is brick built in traditional style and equipped to four star-plus hotel standards. As well as the ensuite facilities - all of which include special aids such as remote controlled hoists there are three purpose designed bathrooms and a shower toilet. Two more ensuite rooms are provided for the use of overnight staff or additional pupils.

Apart from having ample space within their own room, the children can use a large communal lounge and dining room for shared activities with friends and staff. There is also a large kitchen, an independent laundry, and a lift capable of taking a wheelchair and two helpers, providing access to all areas.

A large entrance and foyer cater for all the activities normally associated with the arrival of children home from school but, in this case, the space recognises the arrival of a number of young people in wheelchairs.

If required the whole development can be self sufficient and during school holidays will be offered for short term respite care and educational activities and experiences for visually impaired disabled children who may not be pupils at the Royal School for the Blind. This not only provides support for the community but also maximises the use of the building.

A continual refurbishment and building programme has been going on at the School for 10 years in order to adapt and extend the premises to meet the very specialised needs of the pupils. Explained Honorary Fundraising Manager Donald Jardine: "Changing trends have demanded a much greater number of bedrooms suited to children confined to wheelchairs, many of who require a one to one attendance - and in some instances a two to one ratio of staff to pupil." "The development of Bradbury House represents the first opportunity we have had to start with a blank sheet of paper to develop accommodation to meet the very exacting requirements and high standards. The final design reflects the ambition to create an innovative development of a homely environment for the children while, at the same time, creating a functional place of work for the many staff and carers." "Bradbury House raises new standards in the care of the disabled."

back to top

IT'S OPERATION WATER GARDEN All hands to the pump! One of the most popular additions to the School in recent years has been the water garden, which was originally donated by North West Water. As a special project members of the Seniors Class undertook a clean up and re-stocking programmed, which meant putting in new plants, sanding down benches and power hosing stonework. (Pictured left Ian pots the new plants.)

It proved to be a hugely popular project - not to say, at time, a wet and dirty task… and, as Ian reported: There was water everywhere - we had to get changed. The class was very wet and dirty." And, as his classmate Wesley pointed out to the School Bursar, finance was needed! In a letter to the Bursar - Mrs Denise Tambourini, Wesley pleaded his class's case and the benefits to be gained.

"Dear Mrs Tambourini, Could we please have some tools off Paul for gardening? Can we have some money from the maintenance budget to buy new plants, plant pots and fish to make the water garden nice for everybody to look and feel? It will be nice for you to look at from your window. We are going to varnish the benches and we will need materials to do this." And it worked! Mrs Tambourini was able to tell Wesley: " I am pleased to say that there is enough money in the budget for you to buy some stones to put in the water garden. The garden is looking much nicer and I think this will be money well spent." Another pupil Len, summed up the whole project - "The first week in the water garden we scrubbed the benches and the handrail. The second week we sanded the benches and the handrail. The third week we varnished the benches and rails. One week we went to the garden centre to buy some bedding plants for our pots. We went and bought some yellow stones. I enjoyed doing the water garden."

Len in waterproofs and wellingtons gets help to connect up the power hose from Head of Seniors Anne Hay.

back to top

SENIORS ANNE DEPARTS FOR INDIANAPOLIS After nearly 16 years teaching at the Royal School for the Blind, Anne Hay left at the end of summer term. Anne and her husband Andy have moved to Indianapolis in the United States. Before she left Anne, who began as a primary teacher and subsequently became Head of Primary and then Head of Seniors, spoke of her 16 years at Wavertree.

"I have been fortunate to be involved in many projects including curriculum development, setting up resource banks such as the audio library and those for vision assessment.

Surprisingly, to many, one of my favourite undertakings has been the annual Christmas production - the children always excel themselves on the day and despite me, put on a wonderful performance.

The school building and grounds have changed almost beyond recognition over the years giving us the opportunity to offer our pupils a wonderful range of experience. For me some of the more significant additions are the senior block, water gardens, (one of my favourite places), new swimming pool area, playground, mobility circuit and sensory room. I still love to see some of our less able children light up when they realise that they have arrived at the sensory room.

Perhaps the new developments are not as glamorous as the previous building but they reflect the enormous amount of work, which has gone into adapting the school to meet the ever-changing needs of the children who come under our care.

What am I going to miss most? The children with whom I work and the staff that I have come to regard as friends.

I spent a lot of time sorting out my desk - a huge undertaking - and, of course, I have come across lost of old photographs. I have been lucky enough to have seen many children through the school and each picture brings back a lot of memories, most them happy… a few sad, but all of them give me something to smile about.

I'll pull out those pictures again some time soon when I am sitting down on my deck eating pecan pie and think about everyone at school. Take care and thank you for the memories."

back to top

Joanne Robertson of DLA playing in the ball pool with Sam and Vicky at the Royal School for the Blind

LAW FIRM BACKING BLIND SCHOOL Lawyers at DLA have pledged to raise funds over the coming year towards an extension of the primary school. The extension will provide urgently needed additional facilities and space for the primary age children, due to the increasing number of pupils who are in wheelchairs. Partner Phil Bramhall and associate Joanne Robertson are leading the fundraising efforts at DLA, which will involve organising events throughout the year. One of the first is a Valentine themed cake sale, followed by a 'guess the young partner from the baby

Also being planned is a series of free legal update seminars by DLA at which those attending will be asked for donations, starting with an employment law workshop on 6th March. Further events are being organised throughout the year.

Joanne said: "We have never adopted a charity in Liverpool before, though we have always supported different good causes with one-off events. After canvassing opinion around the office there was a unanimous vote in favour of helping the Royal School for the Blind in Liverpool, which quietly carries out exceptional work with children suffering a range of problems as well as blindness.

PLEASE HELP

Donations to the School should be sent to:

Mr D J Jardine, Fundraising Manager, The Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool, Church Road North, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 6TQ

Or through any bank quoting the following details:

H.S.B.C., Liverpool Allerton Branch. Sort Code 40-29-03 The Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool - Fundraising Account No. 01246798

Some donors may also wish to commit themselves to supplying either specific items or a major part of the general project. Others may wish to benefit the School through the Gift Aid provisions included in the Finance Act 2000. Further details may be obtained through the Honorary Treasurer at the School.

back to top

LANGUAGE OF TOUCH

With impaired vision the children rely on other senses to recognise objects and communicate. In a "language Group" for example, they identify every day things not only with their hands but also with their feet. So here, Alicia has no problem discovering it's her favourite teddy, Ricky identifies a football and Everton fan Christopher finds a book.

Sound Beam

Sound beam therapy has been introduced at The Royal School for the Blind through the generosity of Tesco Charitable Trust.

The interest and enthusiasm from both pupils and staff as they encounter and develop new use of Sound beams is both exciting and challenging. The Royal School for the Blind is working forward to developing and extending its Sound beam work to enhance musical opportunities for all pupils.

click for more news!