We’re delighted to share the second feature from this year’s NASS Awards finalists. Orchard Education, a special school in Lincolnshire, was recognised in the Breaking Barriers & Inclusion category for their inspiring work in cross-generational inclusion.
Over the past two years, Orchard Education's learners and local care home residents have built meaningful connections - reading stories, sharing crafts, teaching knitting, exploring sensory toys and much more. This project has not only enriched the lives of residents but has also developed learners’ communication, social and life skills, even inspiring some to pursue careers in health and social care.
In this blog, Jodie Bromley, Assistant Principal and SEND Co-Ordinator at Orchard Education, shares how breaking stereotypes and co-producing activities with the community has led to sustainable, reciprocal outcomes for everyone involved.
----------------------------------------
At Orchard our holistic curriculum is rich in opportunity, working closely with the local community to promote inclusion and positive outcomes for both our learners and the community in which they live. In 2023/24 we developed our PLP (Personalised Learning Programme) offer further with the idea of making community links with a residential care home for the elderly to develop a reciprocal relationship of inclusion, respect and tolerance.
Removing barriers and stereotypes
Collaboration was important to remove barriers and stereotypes that “young and elderly people have nothing in common” and “communication would be a challenge”. The staff worked with the learners to educate them about dementia and the ways in which the residents may communicate and ensure that learners’ needs were met, for example using visuals and using clear, straightforward language.
Sharing experiences and skills
On visiting the residents, learners developed their love of reading by reading stories to the residents. They have learnt from one another with residents teaching the learners how to knit and play dominoes and the learners taught the residents the benefits of fidget / sensory toys and about popular music. All enjoyed telling and listening to stories of the past and present, working together on arts and crafts projects and some residents have even visited the school to experience school life as it is today.
Learners wanted to support the care home further and requested to volunteer at events, e.g. the easter and Christmas fairs, by fundraising and working on the stalls. This has further supported their community presence and developed social skills.
Impact
The impact has been developing and enhancing curriculum links through communication, social skills, careers, life skills, resilience and building confidence. We have had requests for work experience and post-16 applications within the health and social care sector supporting the local labour market.
The learners have enriched the lives of the residents through the activities they complete with them such as arts and crafts, playing cards and dominoes, painting nails and bringing in music for the residents to listen to.
Some learners use fidget toys for sensory regulation, and a particular success has been the learners bringing in these fidget toys and showing the residents how they work and how they may benefit from them. They enjoyed them so much that the care home now has sensory toys for the residents to use.
The learners have supported the care home staff to overcome some of the obstacles the residents may face, for example: some residents have no family to visit them, so seeing the learners is even more special to them. They are very grateful that the learners are interested in their lives and want to know more.
Some residents are reluctant or forget to intake fluid, but are more likely to hydrate when in a group setting with the learners all sitting around serving drinks to them.
Staff often set up arts and crafts activities, which the residents may be reluctant to participate in, however, once the learners arrive and set up an activity the residents are eager to join in. It is really heart-warming to see the intergenerational relationship and how they positively respond to the children.
Next Steps
We now work with another care home, café, deli and nursery in the locality and hope to repeat this model of working together and coproduction with businesses in the future for sustainable outcomes.
-------------------------------
Watch a short film about the project: https://youtu.be/CvXwfbV4ZX4
To read about our other 2025 NASS Award finalists and winners, please visit: https://www.nasschools.org.uk/announcing-our-2025-nass-award-winners/