The Grafton Centre Sharing Day, held on 12th February, was a celebratory event that brought together students, parents, staff, and other stakeholders. The day was an exciting chance for students to showcase their progress, celebrate alongside friends, and share firsthand their successes with their families. Director of Education, Tracy Gillett, was proud to highlight the remarkable accomplishments of the students. Throughout the day, staff and students from each teaching group took the stage to present and share their incredible achievements and unique highlights from the term.
Purple Group: Safety, Functional Skills, Work Experience and Creativity
Purple Group’s drama lessons fostered creativity and confidence through learning about and practising the elements of drama including scripts, voice projection, costumes, and props. Personal Safety focused on teaching road safety, fire safety and first aid, with students gaining hands-on experience during a visit to the fire station. As part of choosing what they would like to do for the physical and skills sections of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, students have been learning more about science, yoga, baking and ball games. Students on the Supported Internship Programme have been working hard in their job placements at Dobbies, Dulson Training, Chrisbeon Office Supplies, and the Council Depot through activities such as cleaning vans, tending plants, clearing café tables, cleaning offices and restocking the shop floor. Those on the Employability Pathway engaged in work-based activities in college, such as the ‘Friday Trolley’ and office skills, in preparation for future work placements. Literacy, numeracy and ICT were explored through a range of themed topics, including St. Andrew’s Day, where students practiced crossing vertical and horizontal lines to create their own tartan patterns. New Environments sessions saw students use a range of cafes, libraries, shops and outdoor venues, giving them lots of opportunities to practice skills they have learnt in College.
Orange Group: Functional Skills, Daily Living, College Responsibilities and Physical Engagement
Orange Group had an action-packed term. Mondays were busy with the group preparing their own lunch to take with them on their weekly visit to the Wingate Centre, where physiotherapy targets were worked on through trampolining, cycling, ball games and the use of gym equipment. Two students from Orange Group joined with Purple Group to work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Literacy and Numeracy sessions have been very hands-on with students exploring shape, time, money, measure, numbers, communication, speaking and listening, reading, and writing. Practical skills have been learnt in Daily Living and Gardening sessions, with planting and harvesting produce in the College garden, making beds, ironing, and vacuuming. Music has been explored through the use of ICT, with several music apps enjoyed. Work skills are part of the week for students, with individual responsibilities for looking after the bird feeder, recycling, stocking the honesty box and one student attending a weekly placement at a local library.
Green Group: Sensory Learning, Daily Living, Self-Care and Physical Engagement
In Sensory Engagement sessions, Green Group went on an imaginative ‘train ride to India’, complete with water spray and tickets, and a ‘journey along the Nile’, where they observed the sun and felt camel fur. Sensory cooking activities featured creative and interactive experiences, such as magic milk and strawberry-scented playdough. Students developed essential daily living skills, including tidying, vacuuming, preparing drinks and snacks and using electrical appliances. They also practiced self-care routines, such as face washing, tooth brushing, hair brushing, and opening and closing fastenings. Physical activity is embedded throughout the week and Green Group engaged in sports, games, yoga and integrated therapy. As part of their Engaging with the Community sessions, Green Group made choices about where to visit each week, with cafés and the pumpkin farm being popular choices.
The much-anticipated ‘Student of the Term Award’ was presented to a student from Green Group in recognition of his excellent use of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) to make requests and comment on activities, and for working hard to interact with his peers. For his reward, he has decided to visit the Wingate Centre for trampolining and a trip to McDonald’s with his friends, which he is very much looking forward to.
The day concluded with students serving Valentine themed refreshments to their guests. They also displayed and sold their enterprise initiatives, including a selection of handmade decoupage birdhouses, bee houses, and individually crafted garden signs.
The Grafton Centre Sharing Day was a day filled with pride, joy, and inspiration that brought the entire college community together to celebrate the students’ growth and successes.
