Debra Hewitt, Head of Ridgeway school, told a meeting of Rotary Club of Warwick last week about her work at the Ridgeway Special school in Deansway, Warwick.

The school’s pupils are primary age and all have Special Needs with some very challenging requirements. Over the last 3 years the number of pupils has risen to more than 100. The staff have to deal with complex needs and 44% of the children have a degree of Autism, many have communication issues, Learning Difficulties, a range of Physical disabilities, degenerative or terminal conditions or suffer epileptic seizures. The school employs a nurse to provide the medication many children need throughout the day.

Nonetheless the pupils are encouraged to get out into the community, and participated last year in the Rotary Summer schools concert, delighting parents with their enthusiasm for the music. The school has followed the Paralympics with interest and some children have been encouraged to take up cycling

Debra told the club that the school has to fund the expensive specialist equipment that some children need to progress, such as eye gaze technology for computers, sensory occupational therapy, and standing frames to help them stand up. It is a credit to the Head and her team that Ofsted rate the education and expectations set of the children as good and note the excellent progress they make at the school.

Thanking Debra for her talk, Rotarian John Fletcher said he was humbled by the work of her team at Ridgeway, helping these severely disadvantaged children reach their potential. He praised her leadership and spoke for everyone when he said the club would see how they could provide the school with more support. If you would like to support the school, contact “Friends of Ridgeway School”.

President John Taylor welcomes Debra

 

 

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