TAVISTOCK College has unveiled a collection of rooms designed to meet the needs of disabled students and allow them to attend mainstream school.

The Phoenix Suite – complete with adapted bathroom facilities, hoist and therapy room – was built by Devon County Council and Tavistock College at a cost of £128,642.

Ginny Butcher, a year 7 student with muscular dystrophy and a tracheostomy, has 24 hour care needs. The suite was built to directly address Ginny's requirements while also catering for other disabled and injured students.

Kay Morgan, a specialist teaching assistant, said: 'The suite is designed to help Ginny attend the college. The therapy room has a special bed in case she has to have her physiotherapy or if she isn't feeling well and needs to lie down.

'Ginny is on oxygen so she brings one cylinder in with her and we have equipment in the therapy room in case any of her's breaks down. She has a special sling to move around the suite and can operate the controls herself.'

If physiotherapy is needed, other students also have access to the therapy bed.

An adapted toilet, shower and wash bed equip the second room, as well as a sink which can be operated by Ginny by remote control.

'The final room is somewhere Ginny can chill and there will be chairs and a table for her chums,' said Mrs Morgan.

Teaching assistants Catherine Sharp, Clem Cuthbert, Liz Webb and Jane Emery work alongside Mrs Morgan to help Ginny make the most of the educational opportunities available to students.

'We have to be trained in all manners of care so she can access the college safely,' said Mrs Morgan.

'There's been no expense spared with equipment.'

Ginny is hardworking and intelligent, and refuses to let her disability prevent her from achieving in lessons.

Mrs Morgan said: 'Ginny's absolutely brilliant. The first time I did a tracheostomy change, she put her hand on me and asked if I was alright. She's very bright in lessons and she's got no problem with her writing or hands.'

Ginny takes part in indoor PE lessons and, while her classmates are competing outdoors during bad weather, alternative provision is made for her to play sports such as wheelchair badminton.

Ginny's mother, Sally, said: 'The suite has made an enormous difference to Ginny as it has quite simply enabled her to attend Tavistock College.

'It has the best available facilities for a disabled person like Ginny, all well arranged and easy to access.'

Mrs Butcher said Ginny was enjoying lessons and it had been of 'huge importance' that Ginny had been able to move to the college along with her friends from St Andrew's Primary School in Buckland Monachorum.

'The school is doing everything it can to include and assist Ginny and I cannot praise it more highly,' said Mrs Butcher.