A brand new organisation is aiming to provide SEND children with creative opportunities beyond school.

Shape House Doncaster is launching the start of their organisation with Christmas Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) beginning 22 December.

Funded by the Department of Education, HAF is targeted towards school-aged children who are eligible for free-school meals. HAF is also open to children not eligible for free school meals for a small fee.

The curriculum is focused on creative learning, arts and crafts sessions, music, theatre and outdoor activities.

While HAF will run every holiday period for the next three years, the Centre Leads, which runs HAF, stated how it is also acting as a “soft opening” to their Alternative Provision focus.

Alternative Provision is aimed towards children not in school due to a variety of reasons, and ensures they receive a suitable education.

They have a number of rooms tailored towards the needs of the children, with sensory spaces and accessible toilet and shower spaces included.

The building is currently still under construction.

Chris Medwell, 41, and Jamie Christian, 53, from the Centre Leads organisation have many years of experience working in SEND schools and being parents to autistic children.

It resulted in them creating the idea for a space to “bridge the gap” between schools and the needs of SEND children.

Mr Christian said “opportunities don’t come knocking twice” about his choice to leave his teaching role in a SEND school in order to focus on Shape House.

They highlighted how mainstream and specialised schools in Doncaster are “doing the best they can”, but the issue of them being at full-capacity makes it difficult for SEND children to get the help they need.

They feel this is of particular important for SEND children who do not have access to a ‘Education and Health Care Plans’, meaning they are unable to enter specialised schools.

Mr Christian explained how KS3 is a difficult transition period for special needs children due to a lack of support and a change in routine from primary school.

Therefore, he added that that HAF is especially important to SEND children as holiday periods disrupt their routine.

Mr Medwell said it is important they are able to “shape the future for children and young people who get lost in the system”.

Their aim is to develop their curriculum over a 12 week period, working with schools and the local authorities to support these children and young people in their future.

IMAGE: Shape House Doncaster