A MOTHER has heaped praise on her daughter’s school after they took to World Down Syndrome Day with great enthusiasm.

Staff and pupils at Sandy Lane wore silly or odd socks to commemorate the day on March 21 in honour of their very own star pupil, Bonnie, who is nearly five years old.

Her mother, Tracy Burks, was delighted to hear the school would be celebrating the day and even paid tribute to the fact some had learnt Makaton to communicate with Bonnie as she is non-verbal.

She said around £370 was raised on the day, with all the profits going towards Stepping Stones, a charity who support children, young people and their families with Down Syndrome.

The total raised now stands at £396.23 after all the proceeds were tallied up between the school and Priestwood Brownies, who also got in on the silly socks fun by holding a cake sale.

Pupils at Sandy Lane also had the chance to listen to a speech by Sarah Sutton, the chairman of Stepping Stones, who gave a speech about the day and why we wear silly or odd socks.

Tracy said: “They have spread so much love and awareness and everyone is totally inclusive and accepting, I want to show other schools how wonderful it is to have special needs children in mainstream schools.”

Worlds Down’s Syndrome day was taken to with fervour around the globe, with members of the public taught what it means to have the condition and how they benefit our lives.

Donations go towards paying for sensory activity for people with Down Syndrome. A donation as little as £5 helps for 30 minutes of sensory activity which includes suitable games and physical activity.

Thousands of social media users got behind the campaign, sharing snaps from the day online with #lotsofsocks and #wdsd accompanied.

Bracknell News:

 Firefighters from Addlestone fire station also rocked their silly socks

Bracknell News:

Bonnie with Stepping Stones' chairman, Sarah Sutton, who gave a speech to Sandy Lane pupils on March 21