Samantha Cameron, the wife of Prime Minister David Cameron, hosted a Jewish special needs charity at 10 Downing Street to find out about plans to expand its school in Golders Green.

More than 100 supporters of Kisharon, including young people supported by the charity, their parents and trustees, attended the special reception on Tuesday night.

Mrs Cameron spoke to Kisharon chief executive Dr Beverley Jacobson and chairman Phillip Goldberg who outlined the plans to extend Kisharon Day School in Finchley Road, Golders Green.

She also learned about the charity’s social enterprise and adult employment training programme in the wider community.

Dr Jacobson said: “Tonight is a very special occasion for Kisharon for a number of reasons and I am delighted to share our exciting news that we have purchased additional premises adjoining our school in Golders Green with a view to construction of a state-of-the-art special educational needs school for young people.

“This project is in its infancy and is ahead of a consultation process for getting planning permission. It is the start of a dream.”

Dr Jacobson has first-hand experience of supporting children with profound learning difficulties as her own daughter Talya, now 19, caught meningitis at birth which resulted in brain damage and cerebral palsy.

She added: “Our ethos is to concentrate on what people with learning difficulties can do as Talya’s story so ably demonstrates. “Talya is not here tonight because she is in Manchester where she is a student and living in supported accommodation.

“It is our belief that the people we support can best be integrated into the communities in which they live by respecting and encouraging their independence and choices.

“We are enormously grateful to Mrs Cameron for hosting this reception. Not only have we enjoyed the privilege of coming to Downing Street but it has been a fantastic opportunity to spread awareness of our work and fly the flag for people with disabilities.”