Edward Morello, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset, has visited The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester, Dorset following a GOLDEN TICKET INVITATION.
Following his visit, Mr. Morello said that The Prince of Wales School ‘staff are doing amazing work, and are right to highlight the need for proper funding for specialist provision’.
Mr. Morello adds, ‘Parents in West Dorset should expect their children to receive the best education that is not just available, but also that is appropriate for their child. For many of our children with special education needs the best and most appropriate is in mainstream education. Providing properly funded specialist provision so they can stay in mainstream education is not just fiscally sensible, it is our moral obligation’.
Mr. Morello’s visit came following GOLDEN TICKET INVITATIONS out by the Headteacher of The Prince of Wales School, Mr. Gary Spracklen. The invitations were sent out to highlight why the specialist provision his school provides needs to be adequately funded. The invitations were sent to a range of local politicians and prominent civil servants including the Rt. Hon. Sir Oliver Letwin MP and Director of Children’s Services at Dorset Council, Mrs. Sarah Parker.
Mr. Spracklen explains, ‘The Prince of Wales School is a fully inclusive Mainstream First School in Dorchester, Dorset with a wide range of experience of successfully meeting the needs of children with significant barriers to their learning. The School has resourced provision for children with physical disabilities, mainly cerebral palsy. This provision is currently under review by Dorset Council and I am keen to show recipients of our Golden Ticket Invitations in person the importance of this specialist provision being adequately funded in the future’.
The Golden Ticket Invitations, which take inspiration from Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book, ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory’ read –
‘Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr Gary Spracklen! I shake you warmly by the hand! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises await you! For now, I do invite you to come to my school and be my guest – you and all others who are lucky enough to find my Golden Tickets. I, Mr Gary Spracklen, will conduct you around the school myself, showing you everything that there is to see, and afterwards, when it is time to leave, you will be equipped with the knowledge of why the specialist provision we provide needs to be adequately funded. But this is by no means the most exciting thing that will happen on the day of your visit. I am preparing other surprises that are even more marvellous and even more fantastic for you and for all my beloved Golden Ticket holders – mystic and marvellous surprises that will entice, delight, intrigue, astonish and perplex you beyond measure. In your wildest dreams you could not imagine such things could happen to you! Just wait and see! And now, here are your instructions: the day I have chosen for is set by your convenience. On this day, and on no other, you must come to the school entrance. Don’t be late! And you are allowed to bring with you either one or two members of your own team to ensure that you don’t get into mischief. One more thing – be certain to have this ticket with you, otherwise you will not be admitted.’
Mr. Spracklen adds, ‘It was nice to meet Mr. Morello today and show him first hand how our staff are trained and positive about including children with serious medical conditions, children with learning difficulties and a variety of syndromes within an inclusive mainstream environment. The Prince of Wales School has a strong SEND team with specialisms in dyslexia, movement and coordination issues, speech and language, social communication difficulties and Aspergers Syndrome’. The School has an ethos that welcomes all learners and seeks to inspire everyone to learn. I look forward to showcasing our culture and ethos to future Golden Ticket holders!’.
