CEO’s Blog – 7th October 2022

The innovation across our schools and settings is something that should be celebrated.

As much as we put our efforts into providing an enriching experience for our young people whilst they’re with us, it is arguably more important to prepare them for life when their time with New Bridge comes to an end.

With this in mind, it has been so pleasing to see the work currently being done on the ‘Living Skills’ Pathway at Samuel Laycock.

In addition to their more traditional learning, those pupils have been practicing for adult life in a mock bedsit, although to be honest, it looks perfectly ready for someone to move in!

As part of this process, the group have been to IKEA, browsing and purchasing items that would help someone who had just moved in to their own accommodation.

This is a real life aspiration for so many of our pupils across the Trust, and this work is vital in preparing them for the rest of their lives.

Both Samuel Laycock and Hollinwood Academy have dedicated sections of their curriculum and websites which are reserved for ‘Preparation for Adulthood’. You can view them here:

Hollinwood –

https://www.hollinwoodacademy.org/preparation-for-adulthood-3/

Samuel Laycock –

https://samuellaycockschool.org/

The development of the class bedsit is such a good idea, and one that will prove so valuable for the children. I actually think this type of role play/ preparation would be beneficial for everyone in education, whether that’s an SEN setting or otherwise. I think that’s proof of just how much our schools and teams have to offer when it comes to supporting mainstream schools with their implementation of SEN teaching. Well done to all involved and I look forward to further updates.

With all that being said, it’s still so important for us to remember that young people need to be young people at times too…

…and that brings me to the adventures that some of our young people have been having at The Springboard Project.

Their photographs from their early DofE activities looked like such good fun, as did the photographs from their Animal Care course.

Of course, there are plenty of benefits to the participants for later life, but I was struck this week by just how ‘fun’ those opportunities looked. If we can get the balance of fun, education and preparation for adulthood right, then we really are providing an outstanding offer for everyone who comes on the journey with us.

To end this week, I want to pass on my condolences to the family of Aysha from New Bridge School, as well as to all her friends and staff there, following the news that she sadly passed away this week.

Times like this are difficult, without question, but I am reassured by the strength and commitment of our staff teams, who will support the family and friends as best as they can.

Supporting each other is part of what makes New Bridge so special.

Let’s never lose that.

Have a good weekend, one and all.

Graham