School’s sound and light show sensation

PUPILS at Kingfisher School can be transported to the jungle or travel into outer space thanks to a £30,000 creative and expressive arts studio.

The Humming Bird Studio uses projectors and speakers to create the sights and sounds of any environment.

It is also kitted with everything from puppets and giant balloons to mirrors and ultra violet lights which creative and expressive arts teacher Nic Found can use in her lessons.

The project was kick-started by an £11,500 donation from Wythenshaw-based jam company Duerr’s, with the rest of the money raised from the three annual Kingfisher Balls.

Richard and Annie from the family firm visited the Chadderton special school recently to join in a lesson with pupils and see the studio in action.

They were shown around by head teacher Anne Redmond who said said: “It’s just an amazing resource. It enables every child in the school to participate in creative learning at their level, it can be adapted and made appropriate.

“It’s fabulous and it is thanks to the help of people like the Duerrs and people who support our ball that we can create out extra facilities.”

The school has been working on the studio for four years and business manager Michael Unsworth said: “The next phase is to make it interactive so the children can control what goes on. They can push a switch and the lights change or music comes on.

“As the needs of the children change, it will keep on changing.”