NEWS New primary school a step closer to opening
Willow Grove Primary School in Wixams has come a step closer to opening following completion of the school’s foundations.
The new school is set to be open next September on a 3.4-hectare site in the future town centre, and will be part of the Kingsbridge Educational Trust.
A special celebratory event to mark the landmark was held in November, where Bedford Borough councillors toured the site to see the progress so far.
The first cohort will be 25 reception children,
25 Year 1 and 25 Year 2 pupils, but in time the school will expand to be four- form entry with 120 children admitted each year and 840 pupils across the school.
Pupils will be able to enjoy high-spec purpose-built new classrooms, a large hall, library, specialist rooms, playing fields with a range of sports provision,
and car parking for staff and visitors. Wixams already has two existing primary schools and a secondary school, with demand growing as the population expands. Wixams is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough, after Bedford and Kempston.
Councillor Jane Walker, portfolio holder for family, education and children’s services at Bedford Borough Council, said; “Willow Grove will be a key part of Wixams for generations to come, making it very exciting
to see the vision being brought to life.
“This school will be at the heart of a new community with children who only deserve the best. We are determined to do everything we can for their future.” u
https://www.willowgrove.school/admissions/
Nottingham’s trams make Christmas shopping and festive fun easier for passengers with special needs this year
Nottingham’s famous fleet of trams have been kitted out with a range of visual aids to make travelling across the city during the festive season less stressful for passengers with speech, language and communication difficulties. Using public transport
can be a challenge for people with additional needs who may find it harder to buy tickets, get the latest travel information or locate help points if signage and instructions are in written form only. Designed by visual communication experts Widgit specifically for Nottingham Express Transit (NET), the company which runs Nottingham’s tramway, the new symbols and imagery explain key routines in a visual way, such as how to scan travel cards, open the tram doors and request additional time to get on and off trams in
advance to help people with additional needs navigate the network more easily.
Tamara Riddell, deputy headteacher at Rosehill School, a special school for four to 19-year-olds just outside Nottingham city centre, said: “We encourage our older autistic students to travel by tram as part of a curriculum specifically designed to increase their confidence, independence and resilience. The symbols support this and add to the students’ enjoyment of the whole experience.” Rebecca Lynch, education specialist at Widgit, said: “The positive impact of improved accessibility on public transport and in schools, healthcare and retail settings across the country cannot be underestimated. Having taught in a Nottingham school for over 14 years, the city holds a special place in my heart. We’re proud to have played our part in supporting the drive to ensure more passengers get to experience the joy and excitement of travelling on Nottingham’s iconic trams.”
uwww.widgit.com
UKSA’s ‘Skills for Life’ measurement sees significant improvements with school children during residential visits
As the year comes to an end, UKSA is reporting almost 70 per cent improvements across its ‘Skills for Life’ framework for schools and groups visits in 2023.
The Isle of Wight based charity which provides life-enhancing water-based adventures, education, and world-leading maritime training is passionate about removing barriers and provides funding for children and young people who wouldn’t be able to access such an experience without financial support. UKSA has six ‘Skills for Life’: communication,
decision making, teamwork, self-belief, determination and resilience, all deemed essential in a child’s overall personal development. Its activities for residential school group visits are mapped to its ‘Skills for Life’ framework. It then works with schools to share the outcomes achieved and insights gathered in order to measure the impact of the experience on students’ personal development. Part of the experience at a UKSA residential is being able to find out about the potential career options in the watersports and maritime sectors.
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www.education-today.co.uk
Ben Willows, CEO at UKSA said: “Our programmes provide an opportunity for young people to have fun, be adventurous, learn new practical skills and understand the opportunities in the maritime industry. We also enable participants to try new activities which pushes them out of their comfort zone in a safe and supportive environment. It’s great to see such improvement with our Skills for Life data and it further supports that we are on the right path to making a difference to those who visit us and making a lifelong impact on their future.
“For many children, without funding from UKSA for these trips, they simply would not have the opportunity for an experience like this. We are incredibly grateful to our donors for helping to facilitate these trips. However, demand for funding continues to increase as families are hit with the increased cost of living and we need more help to make a difference to more children.”
uwww.uksa.org December 2023
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