LADYWOOD School is an 80 place special school for primary-age children with complex learning difficulties.

The aim of the school, in Masefield Road, Little Lever, is to provide the children with a relevant education in a high quality specialist setting.

Staff strive to build confidence and independence, aiming to enable all the children to reach their full potential both in school and out in the community.

The school opened in November 2000 in a new building after transferring from the old three-storey Woodside School. It shares a site with the mainstream Masefield Primary School.

The building is light and airy and includes many extra special additions including a soft play room and sensory room, but also has a library, computer suite, music room and practical work areas.

Pupils enjoy a wide range of trips including visits to the Lowry Gallery, Southport, supermarkets and closer to home they have toured Hall i'th' Wood. Residential visits have included an activity week in Cumbria and a watersports' camping trip in the Lake District. Pupils from Ladywood and Masefield schools have been asked to represent Bolton at the Commonwealth Games' welcoming ceremony.

A group of children from each school will sing together, performing a song which has been specially written for the Games.

FACTFILE

Number on roll: 72

Number of teachers: 13

Other staff: 13 nursery nurses

Founded: Originally Woodside Junior School in 1940s. Opened as Ladywood in 2000.

Outside facilities: Sports field and two playgrounds, one with a soft surface.

THE HEADTEACHER

SALLY McFarlane is the school's head and she has been teaching for 18 years, six of those years at Ladywood.

She trained at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Polytechnic and studied primary education, specialising in pupils with severe learning difficulties.

Mrs McFarlane, pictured below, has been married to Stuart for 17 years and has two children, Lydia aged nine and seven-year-old Eleanor who find the idea of their mum being a head "quite funny".

When she is not working Mrs McFarlane enjoys spending time with her family, walking, cooking and entertaining.

When she was at school Mrs McFarlane says she was "very quiet and a bit of a goody, goody".

Her aims and objectives for the school include "to continue to develop as a centre of excellence for children with special educational needs".

MY HAPPIEST MEMORIES

"I enjoyed our Halloween party when I dressed up as a witch and played apple bobbing."

Rosanna Stanway

"I will miss the teachers when I am at my new school."

Nathan Gleave

"At the opening of our new school, when Candice from Coronation Street came to see us."

Nathan Jones

"The pancake assemblies. Everybody gets a pancake."

Mark Walker

"Going to Manchester Airport and Blackpool lights."

Krystal Ralphson

"Coming to Ladywood for the first time."

Anthony Grime

"When Bolton Wanderers came to my school."

Steven Bardsley

What I want to be when I am older

"A nurse who could make people better."

Rosanna Stanway

"A fireman."

Nathan Gleave

"An ice-cream man. I'd sell a lot of ice-cream."

Dominic Heeley

"A mechanic like my dad."

Aaron Fardoe

"I would like to be a bus driver in Bolton."

Jake Horrocks

"I would like to work in a shop."

Elisha Butterworth

OUR HEAD TEACHER

"Is so smart, she's better than every teacher in the world."

Gary Makin

"When we are naughty she shouts."

Dale Kellett

"She gives us rubbers, pencils and stickers for good work."

Jake Horrocks

"Mrs McFarlane is nice, but sometimes she gets cross when children are naughty."

Mark Walker

"I see Mrs McFarlane a lot at school and she always says 'hello Aaron'. She also wears lots of jewellery."

Aaron Fardoe

"Mrs McFarlane comes out onto the playground and looks after everybody."

Nathan Jones

"Mrs McFarlane tells people what to do because she is the boss."

Gary Wallwork

WHY I LIKE MY SCHOOL

"Because the teachers take us out on trips."

Gary Makin

"Because I like our ball pool and playing football."

Dale Kellett

"Because I like learning lots of new things."

Anthony Grime

"Because I like doing history."

Victoria Greenwood

"I like art and I like gardening."

Krystal Ralphson

"I like the light room."

Mark Walker

"There are lots of things to do in the ball pool."

Aaron Fardoe

"Because I like all the teachers."

Nathan Jones

"We do lots of work. I have learned to read."

Dominic Heeley

"We have "Big Breakfasts" and I like to eat lots of food."

Gary Wallwork

"I like our new classroom and our new school."

Rosanna Stanway

This is the last in the current series of Top Class. Look out for the new series in September