For some young people, starting at No Limits in September will mean leaving behind a school they may have known since they were four years old, meeting new people and getting used to a whole new routine.
So, over the summer, new learners have been coming along to summer sessions at No Limits in Milton Keynes, getting to know the building, the people and some of the things they might do when they start.
Each session has been based around something that could become part of everyday life at No Limits. There have been friendship bracelets, Lego, fruit art, sensory sessions and trips to the local allotment.
On one visit, learners took part in a scavenger hunt around the building, finding different rooms and ticking them off as they went. It was a bit of fun, but it also meant getting to know the building and working out where things are.
There’s been a lot of that throughout the summer. Fruit art in the upstairs kitchen meant getting used to another part of the Great Holm site. Meeting the team meant putting some familiar faces to names, while spending time together has given people the chance to start making friends before September arrives.
The sessions are also a chance for families to see what life at No Limits might look like.
The team know that starting somewhere new can be a big step, particularly when someone has spent many years in the same school. Rather than waiting for the first day in September, they’ve created an opportunity to build routines and relationships over the summer.
Javier has been to every single session. He first joined No Limits towards the end of last year and particularly enjoyed the art sessions. This summer, he’s been a regular face at Great Holm, getting to know the building and the people around him.
The learners have also had a chance to think about what they want from the year ahead.
After the scavenger hunt, learners, their family members and support staff wrote down their hopes for their first year at No Limits. Some wanted to make friends. Others wanted to take the bus or be able to write someone’s name themselves.
The summer programme has grown from the team listening to families and learning from last year. This year, families said they wanted more around food and more opportunities to explore Milton Keynes, so those ideas have been built into the sessions.
There has also been work behind the scenes, with Programme Coordinators visiting learners and their families at home and the team working with schools as part of the move. It means the connection doesn’t stop when school finishes and start again in September.
Learners have also gone home with a goodie bag and a social story about what they can expect when they start, giving them something familiar to look at over the summer.
By September, they’ll already know some faces, some rooms and some of the things they can expect to find on their timetable.
They’ll have had a chance to explore, make friends, have a bit of fun and think about what they want their year to look like.
As one group of parents put it:
“We’re ready for September, we can’t wait!”
