Latest news with #SladewoodAcademy
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Man, 71, running 121 miles to Stroud for granddaughter
A 71-year-old man is set to run 121 miles from his home to his granddaughter's special needs school in 8 September Stan Bradbury will set off from his home in Weybridge, Surrey, ready to spend the next eight days covering the distance to the Sladewood Academy in efforts are part of a fundraising drive to help fund a specialist play area for pupils like his granddaughter Maggie, 5, who has spent a year at the school."They're looking for a play area that will be safe and accessible for a real variety of physical needs amongst the kids - something that's a bit challenging for them and just exciting," said Mr Bradbury. "It's a lovely school, and they deserve the best facilities they can get," he added. Maggie, he explained, lives with a global development delay caused by Phelan-McDermid syndrome, affecting her speech and mobility. He was inspired to help fundraise for the new play area after taking Maggie to a familiarisation day at the school, where she fell over and skinned her knee at the existing play area after struggling with the accessibility of the equipment on offer. A keen runner for more than 40 years, Mr Bradbury has completed a number of marathons over the years - but this is a new challenge altogether. Racking up around 50 miles a week in training, he said: The worry is not stamina, it's just just getting injured - it's quite easy to do." His training regime involves finding a cafe on the way so he can get a coffee."Custard tarts seem to be the secret ingredient for getting me going on the second half of the run," he added. While admitting he had some trepidation about getting lost along the way, Mr Bradbury said making a difference to the school his granddaughter "loves" made all the preparation well worth it. "I see the the variety of kids coming out of that school at the end of the day and it is lovely to see that they're all getting a terrific education," he said.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
School aiming to raise £80k for new playground
A school for children with special educational needs and disabilities is aiming to raise £80,000 to build a new playground. Sladewood Academy in Stroud, Gloucestershire, has been fundraising for just under a year and has so far raised £37,000, which will pay for an accessible ramp. The remaining money will be put towards installing sensory features requested by pupils. Katy Hanna, headteacher, said the playground is essential to the growth of pupils, adding: "Play is such an important part of any child's education, but even more so for our children." More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Ms Hanna said the school's current playground is "not really accessible" for pupils and the new playground would include equipment to support sensory needs, motor skills, communication and interaction skills. The plans include a trail area, a basket swing, a water play area, a climbing frame and slide, and a road marker to teach the pupils about road safety. Ms Hanna said parents had been "really supportive" and one class had been fundraising. "They did a car wash for staff, they did a bake sale, and they also had their own stall at the Easter fete," Ms Hanna said. "Between ten children, they raised about £250, they've been amazing." Sladewood Academy has raised money through a number of events and staff will be taking part in a sponsored walk in June. "It's every child's right to be able to play and to be able to access things that are suitable to their needs," Ms Hanna said. "Some of them would really struggle going out in the wider community, so we have to give them the best facilities so they can practice these skills and give them the best opportunity to be able to use them." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Plans to build Send school are backed by £20m fund Green light for special educational needs school Sladewood Academy
BBC News
20-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sladewood Academy in Stroud aiming to raise £80k for playground
A school for children with special educational needs and disabilities is aiming to raise £80,000 to build a new Academy in Stroud, Gloucestershire, has been fundraising for just under a year and has so far raised £37,000, which will pay for an accessible remaining money will be put towards installing sensory features requested by Hanna, headteacher, said the playground is essential to the growth of pupils, adding: "Play is such an important part of any child's education, but even more so for our children." Ms Hanna said the school's current playground is "not really accessible" for pupils and the new playground would include equipment to support sensory needs, motor skills, communication and interaction plans include a trail area, a basket swing, a water play area, a climbing frame and slide, and a road marker to teach the pupils about road Hanna said parents had been "really supportive" and one class had been fundraising."They did a car wash for staff, they did a bake sale, and they also had their own stall at the Easter fete," Ms Hanna said."Between ten children, they raised about £250, they've been amazing." Sladewood Academy has raised money through a number of events and staff will be taking part in a sponsored walk in June."It's every child's right to be able to play and to be able to access things that are suitable to their needs," Ms Hanna said."Some of them would really struggle going out in the wider community, so we have to give them the best facilities so they can practice these skills and give them the best opportunity to be able to use them."
