DISABLED youngsters can now join in fun outdoors after a new £25,000 outdoor playground opened at their Blackbird Leys school.

Staff and parents at Mabel Prichard School called on the community to help raise the cash to transform the run-down facility after equipment became unsuitable for disabled pupils.

The Cuddeson Way school officially opened its new playground on Friday after receiving £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fun last month.

It came after the Gannett Foundation – the charitable arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company Gannett Media – gave the school £4,500, and staff and parents raised thousands with fundraisers.

Deputy headteacher Kate Schnelling said: “It is a big relief and it is amazing because it means we could do what we wanted and get it finished. I’m just so excited.

“I can’t describe how wonderful it is. The children are absolutely over the moon.”

Dr Schnelling said the school launched its fundraising drive to replace playground equipment after it became unsuitable for disabled pupils. Work started to revamp the play area at the beginning of the month and was officially opened by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith last week.

Children spent the afternoon enjoying the facilities, which includes an integrated roundabout where youngsters of all abilities can play together. It also includes a sensory environment, as well as rubber-based surfacing.

A wheelchair swing was installed in the playground following funding from the Gannett Foundation.

Goalposts, a basketball hoop and teepees will be mounted during the second phase of work after the school has closed for the summer.

Dr Schnelling said it was “horrible” watching disabled pupils looking on as their friends played outside.

She added: “They felt like they were segregated, that they were not equal.

“Now it means, physically, they can play on the equipment themselves and have freedom of choice. They can interact socially and they can communicate with other children and just have fun.”

Dr Schnelling, who will be leaving the school in July after 14 years, said she was determined to fix the playground before bidding farewell to pupils.

She added: “It will be a wonderful memory. I think this will be the best because it’s brought all the children and parents together.”

Staff and parents raised £12,000 after organising their own fundraisers, which included a family fun day in February.

Parent governor Claire Haynes said: “It was such an emotional day seeing all the kids on the playground. It was just so amazing – you could see the smiles on the children’s faces.”

Mabel Prichard is a school for children aged between 2 and 19 with a wide range of learning difficulties.