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Fi ndus ! F acebook: /Educat i ons uppl ement|I ns t agr am: pr epar edmedi al t d Twi t t er : @Educat i onSupp
BACK TO SCHO O BUMP L ER EDI TI ON!
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Heal t h&Wel l bei ng Hi , I ’ m EmmaandIr unWat er s i deMi ndf ul nes s . I wor kedi npr i mar ys chool sf ormanyyear sasan LSA, t henaHL TAbef or es t ar t i ngmymi ndf ul nes s bus i nes s . Il ovedmyj obdear l ybutdur i ngt hat t i meIexper i encedfir s tands econdhandt he s t r es s esons t affandpupi l swor ki ngi ns chool s , whi chunf or t unat el yonl ys eemst obei ncr eas i ng ast heyear sgoby. Is t ar t edmyownj our neyaf ew year sbackt ohel pmys t r es sr el at edI BSandi t mades uchanamaz i ngdi ffer encei nmyl i f et hatI becamei ncr edi bl ypas s i onat eabouts har i ng mi ndf ul nes swi t hanyonewhowoul dl i s t en, r es ul t i ngi nmepur s ui ngacar eeri nt eachi ngi t . Now asaqual i fiedmi ndf ul nes st eacherIam pas s i onat eaboutus i ngmys ki l l st ohel ps t affand pupi l sdeal wi t hl i f e’ ss t r es s es , under s t andwhy t hei rmi ndsandbodi escommuni cat eandr es pond i nt hewayt heydoandwhatt heycandot ohel p. Mycour s esus eami xt ur eofmedi t at i onpr act i ces , act i vi t i es , t heor y, gamesanddi s cus s i onandar e t ai l or edt os peci ficagegr oups , orcompl et el y t ai l or edt ot hei ndi vi dualf oronet oonecour s es .
Ihaveal s obeenont woCPDcour s est oexpandmy knowl edgeandr es our ces , onef ocus s i ngon pr es chool , pr i mar yands econdar yagechi l dr en, t he ot herai medatt eenager sandyoungadul t s . Iai mt o makemycour s esengagi ng, f un, educat i onaland r el axi ng. Ibel i evemi ndf ul nes si sani mpor t ants ki l l t ol ear n, andt hes oonerwel ear ni tt hemor ehel pi t canbeaswegr ow.
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Der wenCol l e gei sa nout s t a ndi ngs pe c i a l i s tc ol l e geof f er i ngr es i dent i a l a ndda ypr ov i s i onf ory ounga dul t s( 16–25y ea rol ds )wi t hs pe c i a l educ a t i ona lne edsa nddi s a bi l i t i es( SEND)l i f ec ha ngi ngoppor t uni t i es . Thec ol l e ge–na medSpe c i a l i s tPr ov i deroft heY ea r2021i nt heTES Fur t herEduc a t i onAwa r ds–ena bl ess t udent st os t r i v et owa r dst hei r a mbi t i ons , a c hi e v i ngempl oy menta ndf ut ur ei ndependenc e. St udent swor ki nt heCol l e ge ’ sons i t e‘ Der wenHi ghSt r e et ’ , l ea r ni ng v a l ua bl ea ndr el e v a ntwor ks k i l l s , s uppor t edbys pe c i a l i s tt ea c hi ngs t a f f . TheHi ghSt r e eti nc l udesaga r denc ent r ea ndgi f ts hop, c ha r i t ys hop, c a f é, r es t a ur a nt , hot ela ndpr i nts hop. St udent se v ent ua l l ypr ogr es st o wor kpl a c ement si nt hec ommuni t y . A‘ L ea r ni ngf orLi f e ’ pa t hwa ys uppor t ss t udent swhoa r en’ ty etwor kr ea dy t ode v el opt ea mwor k i ng, c ommuni c a t i ona nds oc i a ls k i l l s . Thec ol l e ge ha sa l s or e c ent l yl a unc hedabes pok eNur t ur epr ogr a mmef ors t udent s wi t hPr of ounda ndMul t i pl eL ea r ni ngDi s a bi l i t i es( PMLD) . Res i dent i a ls t udent sa tDer wenenj oyauni quec ol l e gec a mpus s t y l e e xper i enc e, whi c hpa r ent sof t enc ompa r et ouni v er s i t yl i f e: Fr es her s ’ a c t i v i t i es ;St udentUni on, bus ys oc i a ll i f e;s ha r edl i v i nge xper i enc es ;a nd t hec ha nc et ome etne wpe opl ea ndenj oyne we xper i enc esa wa yf r om home, a r ea sv i t a lt os t udent s ’ l ea r ni nga spr epa r a t i onf orwor k . Pa r ent sof2021gr a dua t eT om–whoha sl ea r ni ngdi f fic ul t i esa nda ut i s m –wer edet er mi nedheenj oyac ol l e gee xper i enc es i mi l a rt ohi ss i bl i ngs i nma i ns t r ea m educ a t i on. The ys a i d: “ Wewa nt edT om t oha v et hee xper i enc eofl i v i nga wa yf r om homewi t hot hery oungpe opl e, i nt hes a mewa yt ha tourot herc hi l dr en di d. Wef el tDer wenof f er edaf ul lc ur r i c ul um ofmea ni ngf ult r a i ni nga nd s oc i a l i s a t i onoppor t uni t i es . Wek ne wt ha tT om woul dnotl ea r na nd
pr a c t i c ees s ent i a li ndependenc ea nds oc i a ls k i l l si fher ema i ned s uppor t eda thome. ” T om ha snowemba r k edonas uppor t edi nt er ns hi p, a ndi sl ook i ngf or wa r d t oamor ei ndependentf ut ur et ha nk st os k i l l sl ea r nta tDer wenCol l e ge. Empower i ngy oungpe opl et obemor ei ndependenta l s obenefit st he publ i cpur s e. As oc i a lwor k erf orRet a i lgr a dua t eBet ha nys t a t edt ha t Der wenCol l e geha dgi v enhert hei ndependenc ea ndc onfidenc et odo t hi ngsi ndependent l y . Shes a i d: “ Ia mc onfidentt ha ti nv es t i ngea r l yt obui l ds k i l l sa ndc onfidenc e ha sr educ edt hei mpa c tons oc i a lc a r ef undi ngf orBet ha nyi nt hef ut ur e. ” Der wenCol l e gea l s oof f er sShor tBr ea k sr es pi t ec a r ef orov er18s , of f er i ng t hes a mee xper t i s e, f a c i l i t i esa nde xper i enc et ogues t swi t hSEND. Bes pok ec a r epa c k a gesr unf or51we ek say ea ri nc l udi ngda yt r i ps , s oc i a l a c t i v i t i esa ndi ndependenc es k i l l s . Ahomef r om homewi t ha l lt hef unofa hol i da y .
Br i ght Si gna l l owsy out ot ea c hi ta nys i gnl a ngua get ha ty ou c a nt hi nkof , e v enonet ha ty ouha v ema deupy our s el f . Oneoft hebi gges tpr obl emswi t he xi s t i ngs ol ut i onsf orpe opl e wi t hhea r i nga nds pe e c hi mpa i r ment si st ha tt he ya l la s s umet ha t e v er y onei st hes a me. Thi si sofc our s e, wr ong!Wi t hov er100di f f er entf or ma ls i gnl a ngua gesbei ngus edi nt hewor l d, a ndt hous a ndsmor ei ndi v i dua lv a r i a t i onsa nds i gns y s t ems , i ts i mpl yi s n’ t goodenought os uppor tj us toneort wol a ngua ges . Y oumi ghtwel la s k , f ore xa mpl ewhyas i gners houl dbel i mi t edt o j us tonet r a di t i ona ls pok enl a ngua gef ort hei rc ommuni c a t i on. Thea ns weri sobv i ous l yt ha tt he ys houl dn’ tha v et obe. Br i ght Si gn a c c ommoda t esmor et ha n30di f f er entl a ngua gest ot r a ns l a t e t hei rs i gnst o, i nr ea lt i me, whi l es i gni ng, e v eni ft he ydon’ tk now t hel a ngua get hems el v es . Wi t hbot hs pok ena ndt e xtout put , i t e v enena bl esl a ngua geswi t hdi f f er enta l pha bet s , s uc ha sAr a bi c orMa nda r i n.
SMARTGL OVE Cur r entt e c hnol ogyt oena bl epe opl ewi t hhea r i ngors pe e c hi mpa i r ment st oc ommuni c a t ej us ti s n’ tgoodenougha nddoes n’ tfit ma nyoft hei rne eds . Thi si swhys omuc ht i mea ndef f or tha s c l ea r l ybe eni nv es t edi nt oma k i ngBr i ght Si gna sc us t omi s a bl ea nd fle xi bl ea spos s i bl e.
Wha ti spos s i bl e, wi l la ma z ey ou, buti tha st a k ent hev i s i ona nd i ma gi na t i onofHa de elAy oub, whoi sc ur r ent l yc ompl et i ngher PhD, a ndwi t haMa s t er ’ sde gr e ei nHuma nComput erI nt er a c t i on, a nds of t wa r ede v el opera ndent r epr eneur , EdHi l l , t oma k ei tar ea l i t y . I ma gi neapa r enthea r i ngt hewor ds‘ Il ov ey ou’ f r om t hei rdea f c hi l df ort hefir s tt i me. I ma gi neas pe e c hdi s a bl edpa t i entha v i ng pr i v a t ec onv er s a t i onswi t ht hei rdoc t orwi t houtat r a ns l a t ori nt he r oom. I ma gi neadea fper s onwa l k i ngi nt oac of f e es hopa ndbei ng a bl et oor deront hei rown, wi t houtne edi nghel pf r om af r i end. Nowi t ’ sa c t ua l l yha ppeni ng. Br i ght Si gni st heonl ys ma r tgl ov ei nt hewor l dt ha tc a nt r a ns l a t e a nys i gnl a ngua gei nt oa nys pok enl a ngua ge-i ns t a nt l y , a ndi tc a n pr ov i det wowa yc ommuni c a t i ont oo! Thi si st hedi r e c tr es ul tofha v i ngamot i v a t edt ea m wi t he xper t i s e i ndes i gn, pr ogr a mmi nga ndt e c hnol ogywhoha v ededi c a t edy ea r s ofr es ea r c ht ode v el opa ni nc r edi bl epr oduc tt ha tma yul t i ma t el y , gi v eav oi c et ope opl ewhoc a nnots pea k .
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Educ a t i onpr ov i derWi derAmbi t i oni spr oudt oa nnounc et he upc omi ngopeni ngofane ws i xt hf or mc ent r ef or a c a demi c a l l ya bl es t udent swi t ha ut i s m, a nxi et y , a ndr el a t ed ne edsi nSa mbour ne, nea rAl c es t er , f ol l owi ngt hes uc c es sof i t sfir s ts et t i ng, L ok r um Fi el ds , nea rBr oms gr ov e. Unt i lr e c ent l y , a c a demi c a l l ya bl es t udent swi t ha ut i s mi n Wor c es t er s hi r e, whower euna bl et oa c c es st ea c hi ngi na ma i ns t r ea mc l a s s r oom, of t enei t herha dt os a c r i fic et hei r a c a demi ca s pi r a t i onsora t t endr es i dent i a ls c hool shour s a wa yf r om home. Wi derAmbi t i onbe c a mea wa r eoft hes i gni fic a ntga pi nl oc a l pr ov i s i ona ndha st ea medupwi t hagr oupofpa r ent sa nd pr of es s i ona l st ot r a ns f or m abea ut i f uls i x bedr oom r es i dent i a lbunga l owi nt oas pe c i a l i s tda ys c hool , L ok r um Fi el ds . Thes et t i ngc a na c c ommoda t eupt oei ght e ens t udent s f r om t hea geofni net os i xt e eny ea r sort het i met he y c ompl et et hei rGCSEs . L ok r um Fi el dsi ss i t ua t edi nbea ut i f ul gr oundsa ndov er l ook sopenc ount r y s i de, a l l owi ngt he a c a demi c , t her a peut i ca nds oc i a lc ur r i c ul at oembr a c e oppor t uni t i esf orout doorl ea r ni ng. Weha v ewor k edc a r ef ul l y t or et a i nt her es i dent i a ldé c ora ndf ur ni s hi ngs , c r ea t i ngt he homef r omhomea t mos pher ewhi c hena bl ess t udent st o f e elr el a x ed, s e c ur ea nda bl et ol ea r nef f e c t i v el yt hr oughout t heda y . Thec a l mf e elofL ok r um Fi el ds ’ r ur a ls ur r oundi ngsi s r efle c t edi nt hel ows ens or y , s pa c i ouspr emi s es , wher e s t udent sc a na c c es ss ens or ya r ea sa ndi ndi v i dua lwor k s pa c es whene v ert he yf e elt hene ed. Thes pe c i a l i s tt ea c hi nga nd t her a peut i cs uppor twor k , a l ongs i dea nenv i r onment des i gnedt or emov eba r r i er st ol ea r ni ng, hel pst hem t o a c hi e v ea c a demi c a l l ya ndf ul filt hei ra s pi r a t i ons . Ci ndy , ourgor ge ous y oungt her a pydog i sa tt hes c hool e v er yda yt o wel c omes t udent s i nt hemor ni ng, pr ov i dec uddl es a ndde eppr es s ur e t her a py , pl a yba l l ont hel a r ge pa ddoc ka nds e e s t udent sba c kt o t hei rt r a ns por ta ndont hei rwa yhome. Thec ur r i c ul um a tL ok r um Fi el dsi sba s edont hena t i ona l c ur r i c ul um a ndi sdes i gnedt os uppor ts t udent st oa c hi e v ea goodr a ngeofGCSEsa ndl ea v eL ok r um a sc onfident , ent hus i a s t i c , a ndr es i l i entl ea r ner s . St udent sa ndf a mi l i eswi l l beenc our a gedt obui l dl i nk swi t hea c hot hera ndt hel oc a l
c ommuni t ya ndpa r t i c i pa t ei ne x c i t i nge xt r a c ur r i c ul a r a c t i v i t i es , l i k et heDuk eofEdi nbur ghAwa r dSc heme. L ok r um Fi el dss t a f fa r ek e ent ohea rf r om l oc a lbus i nes s eswhowoul d bewi l l i ngt os uppor ts t udent si nwor ke xper i enc epl a c ement s whent het i mec omes . Al lt heL ok r um Fi el dss t a f fwor kc l os el ywi t hs t udent s , f a mi l i es , a ndpr of es s i ona l st ot a i l ort hepr ov i s i ont oea c h s t udenta ndr emov et heba r r i er st ol ea r ni ngt ha tha v e pr e v ent edt hem f r om a c c es s i ngt hec ur r i c ul um s uc c es s f ul l yi n pr e v i ouspl a c ement s . Thegener ouss t a f ft os t udentr a t i os pr ov i deoppor t uni t i esf orahi ghde gr e eofi ndi v i dua l i s a t i on a r ounds uppor ta ndc ur r i c ul um del i v er y . St a f fha v et het i me a ndr es our c est ol i s t enc a r ef ul l ya ndof f erfle xi bl e c hi l dc ent r eds ol ut i onss ot ha te v er ys t udentt hr i v es . Dur i ngt hepr oc es sofs et t i ngupL ok r um Fi el ds , i tbe c a me a ppa r entt ha tt her ewa sane edf ors i mi l a rpr ov i s i oni nwhi c h ol ders t udent sc a nc ompl et eGCSEsa ndAl e v el s . Ar oundt he s a met i me, s pa c ebe c a mea v a i l a bl ei nt heWi derAmbi t i on hea dof fic ewhi c hwa si dea l l ys etupf orc onv er s i oni nt oa s i xt hf or mc ent r e. Ches t nutPl a c ei ss eti naqui et , r ur a lof fic e c ompl e x, per f e c t l ys i t ua t edt ome ett hes ens or yne edsofour s t udent s . St udent sa tChes t nutPl a c ewi l lpr i ma r i l ya c c es st ea c hi ng t hr oughI nt er hi gh, a nonl i needuc a t i onpr ov i der , butwi l lbe s uppor t edbyqua l i fiedt ea c her sa nde xper i enc eds uppor ts t a f f . Del i v er yoft ea c hi ngt hr oughI nt er hi ghwi l lena bl eChes t nut Pl a c et oof f erawi der a ngeofAl e v elc our s est os ui tt he s t r engt hsa ndi nt er es t sofi ndi v i dua ls t udent s . Ther a py , i nc l udi ngoc c upa t i ona lt her a py , s pe e c ha ndl a ngua get her a py , a ndeduc a t i ona lps y c hol ogy , wi l lbea v a i l a bl ef r om at ea m of c ommi s s i oneda ndempl oy edt her a pi s t s . TheWi derAmbi t i ont ea m hopest obea bl et oopenanumber ofeduc a t i ona ls et t i ngsi nWor c es t er s hi r ea nds ur r oundi ng c ount i esa ndt ha tt hef ut ur ewi l lnowl ookbr i ght erf or s t udent swhoha v et hi spa r t i c ul a rpr ofil eofne eds .