Work starts at Plumstead's Willow Dene School (From News Shopper)

Work starts at Plumstead's Willow Dene School

9:28am Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Mark Chandler

WORK has started to rebuild Plumstead special school Willow Dene as part of a £14m scheme.

The school was only supposed to have stayed in its temporary Swingate Lane buildings until 2004, but delays meant children are still taught there, while some of the facilities have fallen into disrepair.

Now the 159-pupil school is being rebuilt on the same site, creating one building with a new swimming pool.

Funding is coming from Greenwich Council alongside government grants.

Head of school Michelle Bernard said: "It’s amazing to see work starting on site, and we are relishing the opportunities that the new building will bring.

"The children are really excited and thoroughly enjoying following the progress of the build. They are taking photos and creating books that will chart the story of the rebuild of Willow Dene School.

"Having a purpose-built school and access to an on-site pool will enable us to enhance the amazing provision that is already on offer. The warm water pool will increase children’s access to swimming, and further develop the outstanding physical progress made by children at Willow Dene School."