Short Break Stories

Corseford School Summer Club

A story by Corseford School Parent Council

We delivered a holiday club for 19 pupils from Corseford School over 10 days during the Summer Holidays.The Club daily hours were 10am-4pm. Staff were recruited from existing school staff on a 1:1 ratio.

All carers and pupils were surveyed before the Club and as a result,a range of activities were offered eg speed boats, barge trips, archery, bowling, accessible cycling,swimming. Activities tailored to each child’s age and abilities. Week 1 for the younger pupils and week 2 for older.

Where requested, taxis and trained escorts were provided for the journeys.This significantly extended the break each family enjoyed.

The pupils of Corseford School are aged 5-18 and have multiple and complex support needs. The 6 week summer break is very isolating for them in that it is difficult or impossible to socialise with friends(due to the wide geographical spread of the pupils) and due to their complex needs, the majority are unable to access local clubs. We aimed to offer each child a 5 day summer club place to meet with friends in a safe, familiar environment and enjoy fun,new and stimulating activities chosen by themselves. This allowed carers and siblings time to rest, spend time with each other and enjoy some space.
Tip 1:
Survey, Survey , Survey. By asking people what they want from a short break then you can deliver a break that meets the expectations of the carer and the young person. By surveying after you can tweak and fine tune for the following year.
Tip 2:
Tailor the break to the age and ability of the young person attending and try to group them with friends and peer group.
Tip 3:
For a group with multiple and complex needs it is essential that there is a good staff ratio- of the order of 1:1- and that the staff are very familiar with the needs of the young person they are helping. This may involve feeding, communication, personal care and medicine administration. Also access to equipment for the young people is necessary too in order that they can access all aspects of the club eg hoists, toilet aids, plinths.
Every year we survey the young people and ask what activities they would like to take part in at Summer Club . Obviously these activities have to be risk assessed . Each year we look to try and offer new activities and at club the children have taken part in disabled speed boating, archery, outdoor cycling and barge trips all of which are new activities.

In addition there are lots of art and crafts, baking and sports which as a carer it is difficult to fit in as well as the general day to day care. For these young people not only are these activities fun but are more so as they are done alongside friends and peers.
1/" It was good to have a break and it took the pressure off" 2/ "I could relax with friends and family knowing my son was safe and having loads of fun with his friends and with people he knew and who knew him. Being free from worry is a total luxury." 3/ " After 4 weeks of Summer and no school I was over tired and the club allowed me to rest a bit as well as get things done I had neglected. It also allowed me to catch up with friends and have some adult time." All of these quotes illustrate that when you are a parent or carer or sibling of a child with multiple support needs, it is all consuming and a well planned break for them and you is a wonderful thing.
1/" I was able to spend time with my husband and daughter. We even managed to get away for a night as carers only needed to be at home til he was collected the next morning" 2/" It gave me a week with the 2 boys and I took them to a week of gymnastics! A fantastic week all round." 3/ " I was able to go to work." 4/ "It let us do things with his brothers that we would normally struggle to do." 5/ "Got to spend time with my daughter and do activities suitable or her."
The Summer Club is the only break many of the young people and their carers get over the long Summer Holiday.For most, if not all it is the highlight of their Summer. Feedback from carers, staff and young people is always constant in it's enthusiasm about the benefits to all. " A great break and knowing that R was having a brilliant time centred round him rather that him tagging along to our activities."
When Corseford School Parent Council was reformed in 2007 the first thing we did was ask parents what was top of their wish list. The resounding answer was some form of club over the long Summer holiday- for their sake and their children's sake.

We then set out to try and set this up and over a period of consultation with parents at PC meetings the Summer Club was organised for the following year. Parents, carers and young people have been at the core of the planning process and the success of the club is largely due to this and the fact it has been set up by carers for carers.
The young people of Corseford School have multiple and complex support needs and as such it is difficult or impossible to access short breaks over the long summer holiday. These young people require 1:1 care and have communication difficulties, are in wheelchairs, require medication and have feeding difficulties also.

All of this requires access to specialist equipment and support. The Corseford School Summer Club was set up because of this gap in provision in order that these young people can have access to one week of safe and constructive play and activity with friends.
Spending time with friends is something we all take or granted. This is often not an option for the young people of Corseford. The Summer Club gives them a chance to experience this which greatly enhances their quality of life by allowing them to grow and cement friendships outwith the school environment .

When surveyed and asked "What did your child enjoy most?"- replies included-"Couldn't choose- loved them all! (he just laughed his head off when i asked!)", "Being busy and having fun with friends", "Being with my friends". For the transitional teenagers, the week is especially important as it allows them a week away from parents and a planned week with friends-what 16-18yr old wants to spend all their time with mum?
We are heading for our 5th year of the Summer Club and so in terms of planning we are well organised. It helps of course when we know we have secured funding at an early date however we now expect to run the club annually- somehow!
All families within Corseford school need a break so all families welcome.
All Corseford children have multiple support needs. These include, Cerebral palsy, Wolfhirshhorn syndrome, Joubert syndrome, autism, chromosome 2 mosaic disorder, epilepsy, significant cognitive,physical and developmental delay, Turner Mosaic syndrome, social,emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD),learning disability,hearing impairment, visual impairment, speech and language disorder.
Throughout the process of applying to the fund and receiving notification of a grant and then through to the cheque arriving, SC Scotland have been wonderful. Through email and phone call I have been kept aware of progress and of workshops. In addition, having attended a workshop we came away with clearer objectives. Having received a grant SC also ensure that I have the tools to deliver an end of grant report and have continued to remind me of deadlines.
Surveys were done before the Club to ask carers and young people what activities they would like the club to deliver over the week. After the week we have surveyed carers,staff and where communication abilities allowed, the pupils themselves. Questions asked included "What did your child enjoy most?", "Was there anything your child did not like?", "Were your individual child's needs met?" , "How did the SC benefit you as a carer/parent?", "What difference did the provision of transport make?".