A trip to Harlow Fields

It's many years since I set foot in what's now Harlow Fields School. When my son was under a year old (he's now 24!) and we lived in Bishopsfield, I used to go with him to the hydrotherapy pool there, when they used to open it up to the public for mums and tots swimming. So I'm delighted to have the opportunity to go back, all these years later, and see the school on a typically busy day.

I've been invited along by Mick Granger - he of the homeless shelter at Christmas - who has also invited along Terry Kirkby from Pitney Bowes, and the Herald newspaper. New head teacher Sue Davies, together with several students and staff and parents, is on hand to welcome us, and show us round the school.

Like many special schools, Harlow Fields takes children and young people from age three to 19, from the whole of West Essex, with a range of needs and abilities. We start with the lower school, move to the upper school, and finally the FE department for the 16-19 year olds.

There's some great equipment, like the benches in the science labs; but there are also some very real funding needs. The school needs a replacement minibus, for example, and as we visit the hydrotherapy pool the water is dripping from the roof onto the Herald journalist's head. The minibus is likely to cost around £6,000 - the pool improvements easily ten times that.

Tomorrow is a big day for the school - the annual Wheels Round Town, when each class decorates up a shopping trolley or other wheeled vehicle and takes it on a tour of the local cycle paths. One of the lower school classes is hard at work on its trolley when we pop in; while another is using PECS pictures for an afternoon healthy snack time.

School assembly is at three o'clock, and we're treated to a special performance of the African Gum Boots Dance, followed by some sharing of some of the work the different classes have been doing. It's been a lovely afternoon, and we've been made very welcome.