Enrichment 2025/26

Community Participation: Visits to the Café, Charity Shop, and Supermarket

Nova Class have been developing their independence and social awareness through visits to the local café, charity shop, and supermarket. These trips have provided valuable opportunities for students to practice their social skills in real-life community settings, including greeting others, waiting appropriately, and engaging positively with staff and members of the public.

Students have also been learning about safety in the community, such as staying together as a group, recognising potential hazards, and following adult guidance when moving between locations. These experiences have supported their understanding of how to navigate community environments safely and confidently.

During shopping activities, students have been practicing budgeting skills by using cash to pay for items. With support, they have learned to handle money, understand its value, and take part in simple transactions, helping to build their confidence and independence.

Community Participation: Visit to Tesco

This term, Moonbeam Class has been developing their independence and community awareness through visits to our local Tesco. Students walked to the shop together, practicing important road safety skills such as staying with the group, stopping at crossings, and learning how to stay safe near roads.

In the store, students used visual shopping lists to help them identify and select items, building their confidence in making choices and finding familiar products. With adult support and modelling, they practiced waiting patiently, taking turns, and following the routines of a community environment.

At the checkout, students were encouraged to take part in the paying process, helping to hand over items and interact with the cashier. This supported their understanding of everyday transactions and promoted their communication and independence skills.

Community Participation: Swimming Lessons at the Local Pool

This term, Comet Class has been building their independence and confidence through regular swimming lessons at the local pool. Students travel together on the minibus, practicing safe travel routines and developing their awareness of community journeys.

At the pool, students have been engaging positively in their swimming sessions, following instructions and developing their physical skills in the water. After their lessons, they have been practicing important self-care routines such as showering, drying their hair, and getting dressed, with adult support and encouragement where needed.

Following their session, the class enjoys lunch together in the café, where students continue to develop their independence by sitting appropriately, making choices, and practicing social skills in a community setting.

Community Participation: Trip to the Gurdwara

This term, M@LAD has been developing their independence through a meaningful community participation trip to the local Gurdwara. Using visual supports and adult guidance, students took an active role in preparing for the visit and engaging with the environment respectfully.

It has been wonderful to see them explore the space with growing confidence, following routines and learning about the customs and practices of the Gurdwara. With adult modelling and encouragement, students practiced important skills such as turn-taking, listening, and respectful participation.

Community Participation: Forest Class at Sainsbury’s

This term, Forest Class has been busy developing their independence through weekly community participation trips to Sainsbury’s. Using visual shopping lists with symbols, students took the lead in identifying and selecting items for our class snacks.

It has been wonderful to watch them navigate the supermarket aisles with increasing confidence. By following adult modeling, the students even tackled the self-checkouts, practicing their fine motor skills and patience. These trips are a fantastic way for our learners to apply their classroom skills to real-world settings while building vital life skills.

Community Participation: Coast Class warming up @ the Baker's and visiting the library.

This module, Coast Class has loved exploring our community and witnessing the seasonal shift from autumn to winter. Whether they were crunching through frosty leaves in the crisp air or warming up with a hot chocolate at the local bakery, the students have embraced every moment with their friends.

Key highlights have included visiting the local library to choose and share favorite stories. Navigating the supermarket with a shopping list and experiencing which foods are kept in the fridges and which are not and practicing purposeful interactions with members of the public, with a particular fondness for meeting local dogs and young children.