An Irvine school officially launched its brand new “Magic Carpet” learning resource on Wednesday, thanks to generosity of parents and Rotarians.

Haysholm School head teacher Yvonne Gribben described the carpet as a “fantastic interactive resource”, which can display environments such as pools of water, swimming fish and autumn leaves within a normal room.

The interactive learning resource will be used to help stimulate pupils and encourage communication and interaction through displaying bright colours and fun scenes, many linked to number and language.

Last Wednesday, teacher Mrs Susan Rose, with two pupils, demonstrated the magic carpet to Provost Ian Clarkson, Haysholm parent council chair Christina Larsen, Rotary past president Adam Moonie, and donators Ian and Louise Dickson.

Head Teacher Yvonne Gribben said: “It’s a specialist ICT interactive resource and it can help children with severe and complex support needs.

“A special beam projects onto the carpet and you then can see fish and if you touch them then they wriggle away.”

She added: “One wee boy even took his shoes and socks off when using it.”

Yvonne thanked the parent council, Rotary Club, and the Dicksons for their generosity in helping fund the magic carpet.

Over the last two years, parents, carers and supporters raised half the £8,000 cost through events such as the annual Christmas fayre and Summer garden party, and in March, Mrs Gribben spoke to Seagate Rotary about the magic carpet.

The Rotary Club responded with a donation and Rotarian Ian Dickson decided to contribute the rest of the required balance, so the carpet could be ready for this session.

Ian’s donation came from the estate of his late brother Robin, who had worked with pupils with additional support needs for many years and knew how movement and art can enhance education.

At the launch Provost Ian Clarkson said: “I am in awe of this resource. It is a credit to the head teacher and her team that they realised how important it will be for their pupils, and a credit to the parents that they raised so much towards it.”

The Provost added that the arrival of the magic carpet was like ‘Christmas coming early’, and was a good example of how the working together of the school, parents, and the Rotary Club could achieve results.

Parent council chair Christina Larsen said she was delighted that fundraising events also help raise the profile of the school, and commented that the better outcomes achieved in school lead to children being happier at home.

North Ayrshire Council has guaranteed that this costly equipment will in due course be transferred to the school planned to replace Haysholm.