ST MICHAEL’S PARISH CHURCH • LINLITHGOW • EH49 7AL
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MINISTER: REV DR STEWART GILLAN BSc MDiv PhD
St Michael’s Parish Church is recognised as a Scottish Charity No SCO16185
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Donaldson’s School for pupils who are deaf or have severe speech and language difficulties has moved, from the beautiful but dated building that Queen Victoria wanted as a palace, to Linlithgow. The building at the top of Preston Road is a bit like the Tardis. From the road the school does not look particularly large, but once inside you discover a wonderful world.
You pass through the entrance hall and discover a large and magnificently equipped school, with a large assembly hall complete with a modular platform, a swimming pool, gym, library with a superb view, a music room, outdoor play areas and an all weather football pitch.
There are therapists to help the children with all aspects of their lives. The classrooms are miracles of modern technology, whiteboards that can double as TV screens with interactive facilities. Children are taught in groups of no more than six. The teacher is positioned so that natural light falls on the teacher, making it easy for the children to watch the teacher’s hands and facial expressions. Areas are colour coded, a different colour for each age group. There is a bright nursery for the younger children.
At the moment 68 children attend the school, the youngest 2½ years old, the oldest 19, and soon the school is hoping to start the equivalent of a Mother and Toddler group. The children come from all over Scotland and the North of England. Most are day pupils but there are 13 residents who live at the school and go home at weekends.
The children at Donaldson’s are taught using British Sign Language, and English. The combination of Sign Language in all teaching allows pupils to learn in a way that suits their own individual communication needs. Some pupils are actually hearing but use sign language due to severe speech or language difficulties.
The older children in the school are learning life skills, to teach them to look after themselves when they leave the school environment.
Donaldson’s must continually raise funds for even newer and better equipment to give those who attend the best chance of leading fulfilling lives.
Thanks are due to the staff of Donaldson’s School for their help and advice in the writing of this article.
WHAT A
WONDERFUL WORLD
by Pat Brough