A brand new organisation is aiming to provide SEND children with creative opportunities beyond school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shape House Doncaster is launching the start of their organisation with Christmas Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) beginning 22 December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The curriculum is focused on creative learning, arts and crafts sessions, music, theatre and outdoor activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternative Provision is aimed towards children not in school due to a variety of reasons, and ensures they receive a suitable education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have a number of rooms tailored towards the needs of the children, with sensory spaces and accessible toilet and shower spaces included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The building is currently still under construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It resulted in them creating the idea for a space to “bridge the gap” between schools and the needs of SEND children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, he added that that HAF is especially important to SEND children as holiday periods disrupt their routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Medwell said it is important they are able to “shape the future for children and young people who get lost in the system”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IMAGE: Shape House Doncaster<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A brand new organisation is aiming to provide SEND children with creative opportunities beyond school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":264,"featured_media":76609,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1138,78,496,338],"class_list":["post-76405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-children","tag-schools","tag-send","tag-south-yorkshire"],"yoast_head":"\n