A Machen woman who became known as the ‘Marathon Mum’ after completing the Manchester Marathon with a broken leg is celebrating the installation of a sensory den for children with additional educational needs at her local primary school.
Claire Kulisa, 39, was inspired to run her first marathon this year to fundraise for the den, to be called the Cwtsh, as her daughter has autism and benefited from additional help at Machen Primary School.
Although Lilly, 11 is moving to senior school this September, Claire wanted to give something back to the school she says supported her family since their move to the village three years ago.
Claire, who raised £1,400 with her marathon effort, said: “As a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum, I know how overwhelming the school environment can be for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and I hope the sensory den will help them cope.
“We researched the sort of sensory equipment we needed and have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people willing to donate time, money and resources to the project.”
Andrew Lloyd, headteacher of Machen Primary School, said: “As a school we have seen a rapid increase in the number of children with sensory issues who would clearly benefit from this development.
“For us in our 100-year-old building, space is limited and meeting the individual needs of all pupils particularly those with ASD can be a challenge.
“This new learning space is undoubtedly an asset and will ensure pupils with sensory issues get the individual support they need to maximise their learning potential. It will allow pupils to receive sensory stimulation in a calm, comforting and relaxing environment which would not be possible prior to this development.”
It is hoped regular access to the Cwtsh will enhance pupils’ concentration and focus, provide a calming influence to improve alertness and social communication skills, allowing pupils to thrive.
Mr Lloyd thanked Claire for her efforts in completing the marathon despite her injury and overseeing development of the Cwtsh.
He said “It was her remarkable achievement and steely resilience which won plaudits within the local business community who were keen to support us in our vision providing both financial and practical support. As a school we are truly humbled by the generosity shown by all involved who ensured our dreams become a reality and will be of great benefit to generations of pupils at this school.”
The den, worth £10,000, was donated by Newport manufacturer Asset International, which designed and built the unique project using state of the art technology usually used for underground water management systems.
The massive structure was delivered by Kyles Transport using a crane to winch the building into position. Armari Plastics and Cymru Glass Cwmbran supplied bespoke windows and a door and CJS Electrical installed the sensory equipment. The den will be officially opened in September.
• The whole installation process was filmed by Caerphilly production company Green Lady Media.