IMAGINATIONS will be fired up at a Tilehurst school for children with additional needs, thanks to a donation from a Reading-based trust.
Brookfields School will be able to repair its pottery kiln thanks to a Covid-19 relief grant from The John Sykes Foundation.
Last week, John Sykes, founder and chair of trustees of the foundation, visited the School to present a cheque to its headteacher, Brandon Mills.
He was joined by fundraiser Charlotte Wilshire, arts teacher Heather Beeney, and Ione Stacey and Bali the Therapy Dog from Pets as Therapy, a monthly visitor which the Foundation help fund.
Brookfields has 226 pupils who have a learning difficulty and/or additional needs, such as autistic spectrum disorder, mobility difficulties, and visual impairment.
It aims to offer all students a personalised education to prepare them for positive and fulfilling lives as healthy and engaged individuals.
As well as more traditional subjects, it offers a range of enrichment activities, such as pottery, which develop motor skills and provide a creative outlet for pupils.
Due to Covid-19, Brookfields kept pupils and staff in very limited areas of the school, meaning many classes and activities were temporarily side-lined, including pottery classes.
Unfortunately, this meant that the pottery kiln was inactive for a long period and now requires servicing, which the school were unable to fund.
Charlotte applied for a Covid-19 Relief Fund grant to help make this happen
“Bringing pottery back to life will make an enormous difference to our students,” she said.
“Servicing the kiln will transform unfired bone-dry clay from its fragile state to a porous and durable state, which allows one to safely do decorative work, apply underglazes and glazes on the piece without damaging or cracking it, and then glaze after firing.
“The pupils will be able to see the whole process from start to finish.”
She added: “There have been many occasions when pupils have made pottery items for sale to parents and visitors.
“For example, Christmas tree decorations were sold at our last Christmas play, and the kiln is a vital component in this process.
“The range of supplies would also give the pupils a great choice of different colours and finishes so that they can personalise their work.”
The John Sykes Foundation grant will service the kiln, and enable the purchase of a number of supplies, including different colour glazes, clay cutters, and clay stones.
Mr Sykes said he was honoured to visit the Tarrant Class at the school who welcomed Bali the Therapy Dog, with her owner Ione, for the afternoon.
The monthly visits have been running since April 2019.
“The Foundation is delighted to award this grant to Brookfields SEN School, and we hope the pottery classes continue to be a great success with the children, to help further express their creativity,” he said.
“We are honoured to have an ever-growing relationship with the School; the affectionate relationship the children have with Bali is so inspiring and sincere, and we look forward to our visit next month.”
The foundation is open to applications from charities and organisations. For details, log on to: www.johnsykesfoundation.org
