Hello again!
As we approach the Christmas break, it’s my turn again to tell everybody what we have been up to recently. I thought I would talk about two trips we recently undertook with a bit of a difference. It was the turn of Wansbeck’s Year 6s to head down to London with us. On this particular occasion, however, we had two pupils who required the use of wheelchairs. We have taken many wheelchair users to London before so this aspect wasn’t completely new to us. This, however, was the first instance where the children were unable to leave their wheelchairs to climb the odd step here and there so we had to adapt our trips to accommodate - the last thing we want is for anybody to miss out!
The school had requested that each child attend with their own class. The two trips were being lead by two of our LELs (Andy M and Phil) and I went along as a designated 1-to-1 for the children to make sure they and their school helpers were safe and could still undertake everything that we usually do. Unfortunately, London is not completely wheelchair accessible so I started by plotting a new route around the attractions, as our usual tube stops were unavailable to us.
Once I was happy that the route was accessible, I set about locating changing facilities and making sure they matched up with the route we would be taking. I also included a few extra options just as a precaution. Once the logistics had been finalised, I popped into school to meet the teaching staff and children to introduce myself and ensure that what I had planned covered all needs.
It also gave me the chance to meet with both the children and get to know them. Unfortunately one of them is a Hull FC fan, but on this occasion, I let it slide… haha!
On the day of the trip, we met at Hull station, hopped on board our train and got comfortable for the trip down to King's Cross. After arriving in London, we temporarily said goodbye to our classmates and headed off to Knightsbridge (our usual stop is South Kensington but as this station is not step-free we were unable to use it).
It did provide a different experience for me as a lead too: walking through Knightsbridge toward the Science Museum, we saw lots of different things, such as Harrods, and one shop that had a £1million Bugatti in the window!
Arriving at the Science Museum, we were booked into the Wonderlab and at this point met back up with the rest of the class. It was great to see the children be able to join in with their peers and take part in many of the experiments that this activity has to offer. It also gave me chance to liaise with Phil and Andy to double check itineraries and plans.
After leaving the Science Museum, we headed towards Earl's Court, as again this was the easiest station for us to use to head down to Westminster. It was another temporary goodbye at this point as the rest of the class went back to South Kensington.
From Earl's Court we travelled down to Westminster and met the rest of the class to go on the London Eye. It was lovely to watch the class as a whole take in all the sites and we were able to point out lots of buildings and areas that the children were asking about, along with a few facts that we as leads have all picked up over the years.
It was also from this point onwards that we no longer had to travel separately. We headed round Trafalgar Square and down to Horse Guards, Downing Street and the Cenotaph before cutting through St James' Park to Buckingham Palace. We then walked back towards Green Park for one last tube ride back to King's Cross.
Both the children repeatedly said how great a day they’d had, and the teaching staff also commented on how much safer and enjoyable the trip had been with our support. I know it sounds corny, but it’s genuinely why we do the job we do.
I can't end this blog without extending a big 'Thank You' to Nic, who tirelessly spends hours on the phone calling the London Eye, Wonderlab, train services and schools organising the logistics behind every trip. We may be the feet on the ground as LELs but without that office support, none of it would be possible and on this occasion her work on this made my job a whole lot easier.
I’m off for a well earned break now and will see you all in the New Year with big changes coming.
Have a great Christmas everybody!
Shaun, Learning Experience Lead