Specially-adapted bathrooms have been built at a school for children with severe disabilities in Gloucestershire.
St Rose’s School in Stroud is celebrating its centenary this year by improving facilities for children aged two to 19 who have complex health needs including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, sensory loss and brain injuries.
As part of the first revamp in 20 years, the school commissioned bathroom specialist, Kingkraft, to carry out the work, designing a wet room complete with ceiling track hoist and replacing the original bath with a height-adjustable tub and ceiling track hoist.
The new facilities have enabled many of the students to take a more leading role in their daily routine and are helping them to lead more independent lives.
Sheila Talwar, head of care at the school, said: “One of the most important aspects of daily life for our students is the opportunity to live their lives with dignity. People take being able to clean themselves on a daily basis for granted. For our students, taking a bath or simply having a wash can be an extremely complex routine. Thanks to the new bathroom, our students and their carers are now able to access bathroom equipment that is designed specifically to cater for children with severe physical disabilities. They are modern and easy to use, and provide comfortable bathing facilities for our young people. It is exactly what we were hoping for. ”
Michael Bithrey, contracts manager at Kingkraft, who led on the project, added: “Having years of experience of specialist adaptation works meant we could advise the school on the best solution to meet the requirements of the students. We’re delighted with the finished result.”