Pupils with special needs can whizz around their school as if by magic using an infra red track system.

Chailey Heritage School, near Lewes, has invented a system for wheelchair users to move around unaided.

It is one of many innovative uses of technology being developed at the school to give pupils aged two to 19 independence and confidence as they learn.

The school's electronics engineer Martin Langner designed the track. He said: "It works like a railway line, guiding pupils to different destinations.

"It was initially installed to help one pupil move between her classroom and the toilet but now the track spiders across the school, covering most of the complex.

"We probably have about half- a-mile of track with 40 junction points. The track isn't visible, it is an underfloor wire, and we have put markers down to show its path so the movement of the chairs isn't so mysterious."

The wire uses an electro-magnetic system and wheelchairs have detectors to pick up the signal for guidance.

When a child gets to a junction point, the chair gives a warning sound. The pupil can choose to turn left or right by using a switch on his or her chair.

Mr Langmer said: "Through this process they can get about without crashing into walls or needing adult assistance."

This year, the school is working on an advanced mobility system giving children more freedom of movement.

Mr Langner said: "The Scad (sensing collision avoidance detector) is for use off the track and can let pupils roam more widely. It can sense where obstacles are to help children round objects and through doorways. It is more realistic for children to leave school with a device such as Scad on the wheelchair that they can use in the everyday world rather than relying on a track system."

Eight wheelchairs have already been fitted with Scad and six more are under construction on the school site.

Mr Langner said: "Scad was first made for track-users to warn them if they were going to hit people. It simply beeped within one metre of someone in the way. Now it has become more of a steering device and this year we will be working on integrating the two systems.

"We are considering using sound effects to help the children know which system they are on. A steam train noise could be suitable when on the track changing to the sound of a car for Scad use."

Pupils have to be able to operate switches to use the technology, a task which can take some practice for disabled children.

Mr Langner said: "We have built an adventure playground combining all our infra-red technology within an inter-active environment in the nursery as a training ground to introduce technology-assisted mobility when the children are very young.

"The playground has motorised toys, lights, sound, projectors and touch screens monitors activated when a switch is connected. We have developed all the technology ourselves here at the school because we couldn't buy what we needed."

Information technology co-ordinator Patricia Bruce said: "Very few of our children can use a mouse so they have other ways of accessing computers using chin and mouth switches, joysticks, rollerballs and touch monitors. One child is trying out a mouse, which controls the computer by using her eyes."

The school, founded in 1903, has about 100 pupils, both residential and day students. Courses cover life skills and academic qualifications.

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