To help celebrate World Autism Awareness Day 2021, 2 April, and raise awareness, we would like to introduce one of our pupils’ favourite staff members at our specialist school, Inscape House School - Coco. A gorgeous Shih Tzu support dog who has been an invaluable member of the transitions team since 2019.

At Inscape House School, we break down barriers to learning for children with autism, and we support young people from Year 1 to Year 14.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our Virtual Easter appeal this year.

We were overwhelmed with the generous donations from our supporters and local community for our Easter appeal. Your support has ensured that the young people and adults we support will receive a chocolate treat or gift over the Easter holidays.

At Bridge College we love to catch up with the parents/carers of our students. During this unprecedented time, we understand that sometimes we need to take some time out to focus on our mental wellness and wellbeing. Parents/carers were invited to come along to our virtual forum on 3rd March to do just that and to also use the opportunity to meet each other.

Students across Bridge College took part in a hospitality skills competition last week. The task was to set up a table for an Easter-themed afternoon tea for two. The competition tested the competitor's knowledge and skills in health and safety, accountability for events and creativity in designing a themed event.

2021 is a year of the Ox, starting from 12 February 2021 (Chinese Lunar New Year Day) and lasts until 31 January 2022. The new year, also known in China as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. This means the date changes from year to year.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Bridge College students spent the week finding out about Chinese culture, traditions and Pangu (a being in mythology). 

On Friday 19 February, the government announced that there will be new legislation to ban placements in unregulated homes for under 16s from September 2021 and Ofsted will have new powers to enforce action against illegal unregister providers. However, it will not regulate independent and semi-independent accommodation for children in care and care leavers aged 16 and 17 years-old. 

We have written to Gavin Williamson to raise our concerns about the consultation process of the children's social care review

People with learning disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the news at the weekend about DNR orders has highlighted just how far this goes. We, like Mencap, would like to see this group prioritised for the vaccine rollout.

Over the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, staff members at one of our short breaks home, Meridian, have gone above and beyond to look after our young people and help a family in need of extra support during the lockdown.