Construction work has started on a new £10 million home for Stamford Hill special needs school Side by Side, which will enable it to increase capacity.
And with the local community having raised £4 million towards the project, the school’s leaders are looking for wider support to fund the remainder of the cost.
Located on the site of the old Avigdor school, the 35,000 square foot building is expected to be ready for opening in September 2022. Capacity will rise to 130 from 80 and the premises will be a major upgrade on the current site, which utilises portacabins.There is currently a waiting list of more than 30.
The inclusive ethos of Side by Side will remain with mainstream and special needs children being educated together.
Chaim Meir Brim, father of Side by Side pupil Hershi, is enthused by the prospect of a modern building.
“Hershi has been blessed to have experienced the highest quality of support, care and education at Side by Side in very limiting premises,” he said.
“The plans are very exciting and will allow for more students and families to benefit as Hershi has done.”
Governors’ chair Jacob Sorotzkin said: “Society is judged by how we look after our most vulnerable. I passionately believe that the provision of a purpose-built school which can help even more children reach their maximum potential is a powerful thing — and, more crucially, the least we can do to support our growing community.
“The site has been purchased with locally raised funds and a substantial amount of the build costs have come from within Stamford Hill.
“We now need to look to the wider community to help us complete the project and share in the mitzvah.”
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