THE sun shone to herald the arrival of a new £277,000 motorised addition to the Treloar’s fleet.

But this was no ordinary bus, it was a unique, state-of-the-art, life-changing coach!

The students at Treloar School and College are all physically disabled and 98 per cent of them are wheelchair users. Their disabilities are complex and they require a high level of support and equipment to access learning and gain some independence.

While there are specialist facilities on the Holybourne campus, Treloar’s strives to get its young people out and about as much as possible.

According to a Treloar spokesperson, until April 18 that meant that if a class had wanted to go on a field trip, or practice community skills in a district town, as many as three minibuses would be needed to transport six students in their wheelchairs, together with the necessary specialist equipment and support staff needed for the trip.

Space on existing minibuses has alway been at a premium, and any long-distance trips were a drain on the fleet resources, impacting on other classes and resulting in some students having to miss out.

The new coach will render these situations a thing of the past.

It is specially adapted to accommodate 11 electric wheelchairs, an additional 15 seats for teachers and support staff, and ample under-carriage storage space for vital equipment.

It caters for the needs of all the students with sensory lighting, hearing-aid loops, and wi-fi.

The final design has central double doors with an internal lift, which is more beneficial for the students as they can be lifted in and out with dignity. There is also space to allow for a carer to be with them on the lift platform. There is a nurse-call button at each of the 11 spaces for wheelchairs.

And, better still, it will be more sociable.

In the words of one student: “I’m so excited we’ll be able to go on the bus altogether. I’ll be able to travel with my friends.”

Treloar’s raised a whopping £277,500 to pay for this amazing new vehicle and the school and college students contributed £4,000 through sponsored activities during their Heroes Week last year.

The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors contributed £115,000 toward the cost.

William Hill, Past Master of the Company, said: “The donation (fundraising for which would be the company’s 40th anniversary project) is entirely consistent with our focus on education and helping young people in need to better themselves.

“It would be a donation that would truly make a difference to the lives of some young people who are battling with issues that make our day-to-day travails incidental.”

Treloar School teacher Katherine Paddington was delighted with the opportunities that will be afforded by the new coach.

“Our students need to be out and about in the community and the community needs to see them too. The students really do need to experience what other young people do as they don’t often get that opportunity.

“The bus will have music, a DVD player and enable us to go further afield altogether. This will provide many enriching experiences for our young people.

“The coach will be used for work-experience opportunities, occupational therapy community trips, and extra-curricular activities, so you are sure to see it out and about soon.”