MUM-of-three Sophie Edeson got a lovely surprise on her son’s first day at school – the opening of a brand new sensory garden.

Her son William, two, has learning difficulties and physical disabilities, and has just started at Kingfisher School in Abingdon.

He was one of 75 pupils who got a chance to enjoy the new garden for the first time yesterday, after the school won the SOS competition run by construction firm Leadbitter and the Oxford Mail.

Mrs Edeson, 38, a teacher from Marcham, near Abingdon, said: “I’m delighted to see such a beautiful sensory garden. William loves being outdoors so I know he will enjoy spending time here.”

The revamped area will be used by pupils with severe and multiple learning difficulties.

Kingfisher School in Radley Road came first out of five finalists who competed to win the £7,500 prize.

Leadbitter started building the garden last month and teachers, parents and pupils saw the finished garden for the first time yesterday when it was opened.

Michelle Messenger, a teaching assistant who helped create a design based on the five-ringed symbol for the Olympics, said: “I’m very pleased with the result. The garden will be a real asset for pupils and staff.”

Christina Niner, headteacher at the school where 50 staff work with pupils aged two to 19, said it was a “drastic improvement”.

Leadbitter quantity surveyor Adam Broome, who helped to build the garden, said: “It really needed a makeover.

“ There were overhanging branches that made the place quite dark and the work we have done has really brightened the place up.”

Rosie Jackson-Kilham, a teacher who helped to design the original garden, said: “Children who come here can be blind or deaf, so a sensory garden is perfect for them. They can learn about the world by smelling the herbs or feeling the textures of the plants.”

Margaret Marsh, newspaper sales manager for Newsquest Oxfordshire, said: “We have enjoyed working with Leadbitter once again and would like to say thank you to all the schools who entered.”

The other finalists were New Marston Primary in Oxford, Edith Moorhouse Primary in Carterton and Wheatley and Launton primary schools.