From Portacabins to multi-million pound building: school shows future of inclusive education

A school in north London for children with special needs has unveiled its brand-new £13 million purpose-built facility.

Side by Side, located in the heart of Stoke Newington, includes an integrated nursery, as well as a school for children with a range of disabilities aged five to 19.

This remarkable transition from temporary portacabins to a modern, state-of-the-art building represents a significant milestone in the ongoing mission of the school, which first opened in 2001, to provide a nurturing and inclusive learning environment.

Headteacher Gerald Lebrett expressed immense pride in the new school environment, highlighting the vast improvements from the previous temporary structures. "The thing that I am most proud of is that the children are now in an environment that is appropriate for them. The transition from being in temporary accommodation to something fit for purpose has been incredible. The difference in the children's behavior and the impact on their learning has been like night and day from day one," he said.

The new building, which accommodates up to 150 children, includes wheelchair-accessible kitchens, wide corridors, sensory rooms, physiotherapy areas and specialised classrooms, equipped with cutting-edge technology and equipment to support children with various disabilities.

The school also boasts a high staff-to-student ratio, ensuring personalised care and attention for each child.

Discussing the integrated nursery for both mainstream children and those with special needs, Lebrett said that it was about "encouraging the children to learn and play side by side”, adding: “The dream was for children to benefit from learning and playing alongside mainstream children. We have continued to preserve that vision in everything we do, including managing some mainstream children in our nursery."

The school’s commitment to fostering inclusive education has been praised by its trustees, who played a crucial role in raising funds for the new building.

Chair of trustees, Yanky Sorotzkin, explained the importance of the new school in the community, stating: "Society is judged by how it treats its weakest members, and these children really, really deserve a school that is purpose-built for their needs. It wasn't just about wanting to build a school – it was the only option left."

Side by Side was founded 28 years ago by Rebecca Rumpler, whose son, Israel, born with Down’s syndrome, struggled to interact with mainstream children.

It started as a small playgroup in her front room before opening a few years later as a school. 

Despite its success, the school continues to face operational challenges, particularly in staffing and funding.

Lebrett acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining a growing staff as the school expands to meet the needs of an increasing number of children. “Staffing is a challenge that every school faces, but for us, it’s a double challenge. Not only are we recruiting to replace staff, but we’re also expanding as we take on new students,” he explained.

Despite these challenges, Rabbi Mochi Margulies, a trustee, emphasised the collective spirit at the school, saying: “The beauty of Side by Side is that everyone is in it together. No negativity – we’re all here for one purpose, to support the children.”

This sense of unity is further reinforced by Shimon Cohen, another trustee, who expressed deep gratitude to those who have contributed to the school’s mission, including key investor Joey Esfandi. “We have so many people to thank for their incredible generosity, especially the local families who made significant donations,” he said.

“But then there is Joey. He simply would not take no for an answer, and we are deeply grateful to him for opening the doors to major foundations that joined our project.”

While the school navigates the transition to a larger school, both in terms of its building and its numbers, its core mission remains unwavering, said Lebrett –  to provide children with disabilities the opportunity to learn, grow and integrate into the wider community.