Pupils at a school for children with learning disabilities are celebrating a £100,000 cash grant to build new facilities.

Chilworth House in Thame Road, Wheatley, has used the money to convert a 200-year-old coach house on the site into a multi-purpose dining and assembly room.

Money for the development came from the owners, The Witherslack Group, which runs the independent school.

Headteacher Bob Marchbank said the new facilities would be of huge benefit to the school, which teaches pupils with Asperger’s syndrome and social and emotional behavioural issues.

He said: “The school opened in 2005 and since then we have grown and grown, and we were nearing capacity.

“We are absolutely delighted with our new rooms which have enabled us to increase our registration from 24 to 30 pupils.

“We were all cramped in a small area before this, so it’s nice to have a new space to spread out into.”

Mr Marchbank said the children at the school were very excited at now being able to have hot meals on site.

The school takes in pupils from as far away as London.

In 2006 — when it only had two pupils — it was praised by school inspectors Ofsted for the positive atmosphere generated by the staff, strong relations with parents and the values promoted by the school such as respect, patience, co-operation and friendship.

Developed on former residential home grounds, the investment brings the total spent on the site to more than £1.5m Mr Marchbank said.

He added: “It’s so important to have these facilities. A lot of the children here have more than one need.

“If they have behavioural difficulties then they are often behind in learning.

“And vice versa, if they are behind in their learning then there are often behavioural issues.”

The new facilities were officially opened by Witherslack Group chairman Mike Barrow.