A dream for the disabled comes true

A head teacher’s dream to create the very best for disabled children has come true in Knowsley.

Ian Cordingley was at the forefront of work to create Bluebell Park – a revolutionary special educational needs centre in Kirkby.

The new building brings together the communities of Springfield school were Ian was head and The Elms school. He’d worked hard to make the new school the best it could be but died just before it opened.

He was determined to help the disabled take part in sport and, in tribute, Bluebell Park’s sports hall has been named after him. His wife, son, daughter and grandson were at the official opening of Bluebell Park, which is for people with special needs, aged 3 to 19. “Ian would’ve been so proud of what’s been done here,” said his widow, Julie. “He loved sport and was passionate about helping everyone to take part.

“This has been an emotional day but uplifting too – Cordingley Sports Hall is great and we think the pupils will think so too.” The opening of Bluebell Park completes Knowsley’s building schools for the future programme.

All the borough’s secondary schools and several primary schools have been replaced with new state of the art centres. Bluebell Park has amazing facilities that can be used by the pupils and disabled people in the community.

These include an18 metre warm water Learner Pool, a Hydrotherapy Pool and a number of sensory areas. There’s a Sports Hall, Performance Hall and Soft Play area as well as specialist teaching areas for Design and Food Technology. All classrooms are bright and airy and on the ground floor with direct access to outdoor play areas.

Pictured are Julie Cordingley, Ian’s widow, Jamie and Rebecca Cordingley, his son and daughter and Reece Cordingley, 7, his grandson in the sports hall in the new Bluebell Park school, that’s been named after him.