CHILDREN at Holywell School in Watford welcomed back former pupil and Mayor of Watford Rosemary Bell, who opened the school's new reception classroom on Wednesday.

The classroom was built at the primary school in Tolpits Lane with funding of more than £130,000, which was awarded by the Government last year. The building was completed at the beginning of January.

The school, which caters for children with hearing impairments as well as those with normal hearing, was granted the money for its new classroom because of its growing intake of pupils.

The school's usual annual intake of 45 children has been exceeded this year with 52 new pupils due to join in September. Many of these were admitted on appeal after parents of children with hearing difficulties fought for places.

The opening of the classroom was particularly poignant for Mrs Bell, who had learned to cope with hearing difficulties when she was a pupil at the school.

After battling with meningitis as a young child, Mrs Bell recovered but was left partially deaf by the illness.

She said: 'I was one of the first intake of pupils at Holywell and they were very tough with me. They made me cope and gave me the confidence to go on and become Mayor of Watford.

'It was a marvellous school when I came here, it gave me bags of confidence and I am sure that it is continuing to do that with its pupils today.'

The new classroom forms a physical link between the infant and junior sections of the school, a feature which has been commended by headteacher Mrs Mary Gunn.

She said: 'It has made a big difference to the way we organise our lives in school. In particular, the infants are allowed more independence.

'The class has been purpose built as a reception classroom, so it meets all the children's needs.

'We pride ourselves on creating an environment that is good for all the children in terms of equal opportunities and equality of access. If we get it right for the hearing impaired, we get it right for all.

'We are getting improved results for all our children and it is due to the hard work by parents, staff and commitment from the children.'

The opening of the classroom coincided with the school's two-day Millennium celebrations, which involved events for the children and activities organised by parents.

Children took part in a drumming workshop, helped make costumes for Watford's Rainbow Festival and were told stories by Bob Thingamebob.

Mrs Gunn said: 'The children have done very enjoyable activities and they have learned a lot, but they think they have been on holiday for two days.'