A NEW school catering to physically and mentally challenged children has been added to the Monk Street, Spanish Town, landscape. The St Catherine school, which opens in September, can accommodate 50 students aged three to six.

The institution, which will be called 3D Early Childhood Centre for Children with Disabilities, will have specialist teachers in disabilities care.

"We are thankful for the help from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) in making the school a reality," said Gerlin Bean, managing director of 3D Projects, an organisation that focuses on the care of children with disabilities, among other causes.

"The caregivers will now be doing all in their power to make the children feel cared for."

Bean said children who are autistic or who have other mental or physical disorders will benefit from the facility. It will be open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

JSIF, major funders of the initiative, pumped $4.5 million into the restoration of a building for the school. Donations from members of the Spanish Town community totalled $717,000.

Shirley McLean-Brown, member of the finance committee of JSIF, said the group would continue to support education through donations.

The handover ceremony took place on June 17 on Monk Street.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com