{"id":368362,"date":"2025-08-23T23:18:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T23:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/368362\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T23:18:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T23:18:14","slug":"special-school-in-north-london-crowdfunds-for-new-playground-amid-cash-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/368362\/","title":{"rendered":"Special school in North London crowdfunds for new playground amid cash crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

A North London specialist school struggling for cash is trying to raise \u00a350,000 to build a new playground it says will have a \u201cprofound\u201d impact on dozens of children with complex needs.<\/p>\n

Camden \u2019s Robson House launched a GoFundMe crowdfunder in the hope of bringing a new recreational space designed for pupils with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Right now the pupils have access to a \u201cstark tarmac rectangle offering little to encourage or engage our children during outdoor play\u201d. With input from an occupational therapist, the new playground will be able to nurture \u201ccrucial physical and mental skills\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur children, who have often had incredibly challenging experiences, deserve every chance to thrive, and that includes their learning and play environments,\u201d the organisers said. \u201c[This] will make a profound difference for up to 30 children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robson House is a pupil referral unit (PRU) for primary school-aged children who can\u2019t attend mainstream schools or have been permanently excluded because of various challenges. Ofsted gave it a Good rating at its last review in 2023. The establishment\u2019s Head of School is Laurel Robin, while John Hayes is Executive Headteacher of Netley Campus where the school is based.<\/p>\n

The crowdfunder comes amid a funding crisis for the school, as governors in March told Camden Council Robson House could not balance its budget this year. The Town Hall last year covered its roughly \u00a3340,000 overspend, but in 2025 the school continues to face an \u201cunsustainable\u201d deficit.<\/p>\n

Like many other mainstream and special schools up across the country, funding pressure has in part come from a rising number of children being awarded an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), entitling them to extra support. In Camden, these have mostly been driven by rising rates of autistic spectrum disorder, but also more primary-aged pupils with SEMH needs.<\/p>\n

In June, Executive Headteacher John Hayes, who also heads up Gospel Oak Primary, warned Camden Council its maintained schools were \u201cfalling apart\u201d amid a funding squeeze, with public sector pay rises for teachers making it harder to cut costs. The Town Hall had told school leaders to prepare for more financial pressure and shrinking reserves after it emerged they had collectively lost \u00a36m from their own balances since last year. As of the latest report, 1 in 5 local authority schools in the borough are now in deficit.<\/p>\n

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