A special needs school won a national award for the way it helps pupils find work.

West Lea School, in Haselbury Road, in Edmonton, was presented with the prize by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow MP at School Council Awards for its shop West Lea in the Green, which it runs at Edmonton Green shopping centre.

The shop opened two years ago and gives children at the school a chance to gain work placements  leading to paid work.

Julian Halford, community and enterprise manager at West Lea School, said: “I am very proud of the school council I co-ordinate and the marvellous achievements in our charity shop West Lea in the Green.

“We have been trading for nearly two years and it is due to the enthusiasm and dedication of the pupils who work and volunteer in the shop, even on a Saturday, that the project has been a wonderful experience for the whole community.”

Edmonton MP Andy Love said: “It’s fantastic news that West Lea’s hard work has been recognised.  Their project not only gives students valuable work experience, but it also feeds funds back into the school for additional trips.  It’s great to see local students being active in their community from such a young age.”