Walsall's Blue Coat Church of England Infant and Junior School children welcomed the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Dr Tim Wambunya, and other guests at the end of June for the official opening of their new specialist resource provision, ‘The Ark’. The provision has been operating very successfully since January providing a specialised education for children with complex communication needs.
The Bishop was joined by Dorothy Buchanan who served on the Blue Coat governing body for over 30 years. Miss. Buchanan received an MBE from the Queen for services to education in 2013.
The Specialist Resource Provision is housed in a newly refurbished building on the Junior School site, renamed the Dorothy Buchanan Building The design and extensive refurbishment work has been funded by Walsall Council.
The provision will serve Walsall children aged from 4 to 11 years old. It has been designed to provide a bespoke environment that supports the learning of the sixteen pupils with high support needs using it. The specialist teaching team deliver a carefully planned curriculum that meets the needs of the children and, within the environment, there are specialised spaces including two sensory rooms and a sensory garden.
The Bishop met all the Blue Coat children in both schools during his visit. Miss. Buchanan and Bishop Tim, cut a ribbon (blue of course!) to officially open the new facility and a plaque has been installed to mark this special occasion.
Mr. Anthony Orlik, Executive Head of the Blue Coat Infant and Junior Schools’ Federation said, “we serve a wonderful, diverse community at Blue Coat and the schools have always had a strong commitment to inclusion and providing the best possible education to all learners whatever their needs. We are delighted to be working with Walsall Council and the Lichfield Diocese to deliver this new base offering the highest quality provision for pupils who can really benefit from it.”
The Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Dr Timothy Wambunya said: "I was delighted to join The Blue Coat C E Junior School for the formal opening of their new Specialist Resource Provision. It is a joy to see the Church of England’s commitment to inclusive education expressed so clearly in this innovative and compassionate initiative. My prayer is that this new provision will serve as a space for growth, belonging, and hope for every child it serves."