Children at a school destroyed in a devastating fire will have to wait before temporary classrooms are installed.
SS Simon & St Jude CE Primary School in Great Lever was burned to the ground after a fire broke out in August, provoking a widespread dismay from parents, pupils and across the community.
Children are still being taught across three different sites with no date yet set on when temporary classrooms will be available, but several generous donors have come forward to help with the school’s community book pledge.
Cllr Nadeem Ayub, who represents Farnworth North and sits as a parent governor, said: “Firstly it’s a credit to the school itself, all its staff, the other governors and all the staff at the council that there has been no disruption to children’s education so credit to them.”
He added: “People have been incredibly generous with their donations, with helping the school to replace the books that were lost so all credit to them as well.”
Temporary classrooms are being built on Walkers Field in Great Lever, which had planned to be ready by November but have now been delayed.
But Cllr Ayub says they do not yet have a new date, but children will continue to receive their education in community hubs around the area.
These have included the Railway Club on Green Lane, Bolton Cricket Club off Bishops Road and opposite Mount St Joseph School on Greenland Road, Farnworth.
Housebuilding company Bellway has stepped in with a £250 to an initiative looking to supply 250 new books for the school library.
The Community Book Pledge initiative has been organised by Fabienne Delahaye, an Usborne Partner bookseller,
She said: “As an Usborne Partner in Bolton, it is my goal to help improve reading skills with children in the community. A good selection of books at school is essential for this, and after the fire at SS Simon & Jude CE Primary School, I wanted to work with a local business to replace all the destroyed books.
“I am grateful to Bellway for its support and generous donation, with 250 new books for the school library I can continue with my objective and encourage children to read for pleasure.”
She added: “The next step is for me to purchase the books for the school, incorporating a mix of authors to suit the age groups, focusing on non-fiction as requested.
“I will then deliver these towards the end of the month, to coincide with the new term.”
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The housebuilders have said they hope this will help the children’s education continues unhindered.
Bellway sales director Grace Yarlett said: “The fire at SS Simon & Jude CE Primary School was devastating.
“We are thrilled to have been able to help out in a small way, providing 250 new books to replace all of those that were lost in the fire.
“Reading is such an important part of a child’s education which makes Fabienne’s Community Book Pledge a really essential initiative.”
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