PUPILS at Mabel Prichard Special School have starred in a film about the creation of its new playground.

The school in Blackbird Leys, which has pupils with a range of learning difficulties, needed new playground equipment that children could use safely and independently.

Radio chat show host Stephen Fontaine, 48, has directed and produced a seven-minute feature Playing With Friendships which was filmed over the summer.

Mr Fontaine, who lives in Sandford-on-Thames, first heard about the school’s need for a new playground as part of his job at Oxford’s Destiny Radio.

The project took off after he spoke with Cowley mum Claire Haynes, whose daughter Molly, 10, is a pupil at the school.

He said: “I present The Journey Show, talk and music show covering local issues. I heard they were trying to raise money for equipment for both able-bodied and disabled children to play together.

“Claire rang me and spoke about their fundraising work with such contagious passion and zeal I asked if I could turn it into a film.”

The Cuddesdon Way school was needing new play facilities, including an adapted roundabout that could be used by children in wheelchairs.

The playground was finally opened in June, after months of fundraising. The school was helped with an extra £4,500 from the Oxford Mail’s parent company the Gannett Foundation, which features in the film, and £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Over two visits to the school Mr Fontaine and a cameraman filmed both the original site and the grand reopening, developing close bonds with school staff and pupils.

He said: “It was very moving, and also very educational.

“I have never felt so welcome on a shoot before. Pupils gave me suggestions on what I should shoot.

“There were a lot of strong characters. They acted like it was their film .”

Both Molly Haines and her wheelchair-bound best friend Matius Haywood, also 10, feature heavily in the film and are shown finally playing together on the new roundabout.

Along with recently-retired Mabel Prichard deputy head Kate Schnelling, Molly and her mother joined Mr Fontaine for a screening last week.

Mrs Haynes, 35, said: “Making the film was a rollercoaster.

“The finished effect was outstanding.”

Playing with Friendships is available now on YouTube and will be shown on Mabel Prichard’s website, while also being sent to the National Lottery and disability charities.

Mr Fontaine is also considering circulating it among film festivals.