DOWNING Primary School is celebrating today after receiving a £500 cash boost for children with special needs.Teacher Liz Minister, 56, set up a special needs fund to provide additional learning support at the school two years ago and has raised £4,000 so far.

DOWNING Primary School is celebrating today after receiving a £500 cash boost for children with special needs.

Teacher Liz Minister, 56, set up a special needs fund to provide additional learning support at the school two years ago and has raised £4,000 so far.

The latest cash bonanza was thanks to Ipswich and Norwich Co-op's Community Dividend Fund and will fund 83 hours of one to one help.

Downing Primary has 60 pupils on the special needs register for learning difficulties, emotional problems and dyslexia related difficulties in literacy and numeracy.

Special needs teacher Ms Minister said: "Suffolk County Council is already supportive with children with learning disabilities but the appeal provides extra help over and above what is already provided at the school.

"Everyone locally has been very supportive of the fund," she said. "The children do come on leaps and bounds when they get one to one assistance. I think the donation is brilliant and will provide a lot of hours of special needs help."

Ms Minister, of The Street, Holbrook, has organised a host of fundraising tasks generously supported by the community, which have included a garden party and an incredible five-day sponsored silence for the school last year.

She received the cheque from Paul Allen and staff at the Holbrook Co-op Foodstore.

"I am delighted that one of our regular customers will benefit from our Community Dividend Fund," said Mr Allen.

The Co-op Community Dividend Fund is supported by co-op members who quote the special dividend number 660 instead their own share number when they shop at the Co-op. Hundreds of local groups receive support from the Community Dividend Fund Every year.