Deaf children are celebrating a new classroom which was built through a community project to mark National Deaf Awareness Week.
The hexagonal wooden classroom, developed for the students of Deaf Academy in Exmouth, serves as both an educational space and shelter during break times.
It caters to 70 pupils aged nine to 25, and is adapted for wheelchair use, as well as including circular seating specifically designed to aid the kids and staff who rely on lip reading and British Sign Language.
The expansion of the learning area was needed due to an increase in student numbers at the academy.
Splash Projects, a local community partner, offered a considerable financial concession for the classroom's construction.
The four-member building team completed the project within five days, a feat that enabled cost savings and allowed the academy to simultaneously erect a climbing castle structure and a shed.
Rachel Stevens, the head of school at the Deaf Academy, expressed her gratitude to those who made it possible.
She said: "Students love making use of their new outside classroom, especially to shelter in during showery break times!
"We wish to thank Swire Charitable Trust who made a generous donation, Splash Projects, and builder Rich Acca and his team."
Splash Projects and the academy have expressed a mutual interest to collaborate in the future for the creation of a Forest School for students within its grounds.
Rich Acca, Splash Project manager, expressed his satisfaction in assisting local causes.
He said: "Most of the time we’re hundreds of miles from home delivering projects for our business partners’ communities, so it was great to get stuck in and support a local charity in our own community."
Simon Poole, managing director of Splash Projects, echoed Mr Acca’s sentiments, adding: "We’re extremely keen to support organisations making a difference in our community."
Splash Projects has also sponsored the production of a short film to further raise awareness of issues faced by the deaf community.
The video can be viewed on the Deaf Academy website, complete with British Sign Language.
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