Dunhurst pupils help in local community

Dunhurst pupils help in local community

18/05/2011

During the Spring term, Dunhurst, Bedales Junior School, invited pupils in years 7 and 8 to participate in a Community Service Programme. The children were divided into two groups, to help at Steep C of E Primary School and Hollywater School for the Learning Disabled.
 
The Programme, which runs every year for one term, gives the children a chance to learn about the importance of volunteering and to experience the enjoyment of helping other people in the community.  At Steep Primary, Dunhurst pupils enjoyed helping younger children in classroom activities, such as crafts, and helped the teachers tidy up.

At Hollywater the children helped in sport lessons ranging from gymnastics and ball skills and took part in the teams. They also helped out with IT and have enjoyed learning some sign language.

Commenting on Dunhurst pupils’ visits, Lou Romans, Headteacher of Steep C of E VC Primary School said: “We enjoy working with the Dunhurst pupils who have been coming to Steep Primary on a weekly basis.  They have supported the older children well with ICT and art and have been a brilliant help with our youngest children, especially in maths.  They have even taught them some playground games.  We only hope that they have enjoyed coming as much as we have enjoyed having them here."

Teacher Chris Foster at Hollywater said “The pupils in this class have very complex needs and communication is often very difficult for them to understand or express. Dunhurst’s volunteers have worked enthusiastically with the children, adapted to various roles - playing games, helping create resources, acting and helping the children to access stories in a multi-sensory way. They have been sensitive to the pupils’ needs and the children have enjoyed their company.”

The programme is organised by Dunhurst’s teacher of Art, Louise Banks, who believes that volunteering helps the pupils with their own personal growth and development: “It is good for children who are a bit shy or nervous to get involved too as it helps with their confidence. I remember when my daughter, who is now 18, took part when she was a pupil at Dunhurst and she still remembers how positive the experience was for her.”

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