Summer Fair - Guide Dogs & The Macular Society & Brunel!!

At this Years Summer Fair the Oasis was fund raising for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Macular Society. We were fortunate enough to be supported by our good friend Tom McInally and Brunel, award winning guide dog and general superstar!

 

 

Our tombola made a grand profit of £133, which will be shared between the two charities.

 



 

We supplemented our income by getting out the maypole, which the children have been enjoying in school at lunchtime, and asking for donations while the children danced to our live band.

 



Tom and Brunel 'looked' on while the children spun past!

 

 

What a fun way to raise money!

Thank you to all those who came and supported us!

VIP Friday

We have had a special visitor this week at Kings Copse. Kevin Allison is visiting the UK over the summer before he begins his studies to become a teacher of the Visually Impaired in Chicago, USA.

He has spent the week shadowing our staff and pupils gaining experience of the wide variety of impairments that we cater for at Kings Copse.

 

And to add to that he was guest of honour at this Friday's VIP club. The children really enjoyed quizzing Kevin during their VI circle time and particularly enjoyed hearing his accent!

 

 Later on all the children were treated to a story read by one of our VI pupils who is working on his intonation and expression; this is more purposeful if it is to your friends rather than 'just an adult'. He read brilliantly!!!

 

Newspaper Rain!

All is not what it seems.....

 

 

No this is not a mess...

 

No this is not pass the parcel gone wrong....

 

 

This is 'paper rain!'

 



While trying to make newspaper trees in Year R this morning our Reg. blind student suddenly got a great deal of sensory satisfaction through tearing the newspaper!

 

But that was not all. Our fantastic Reception teacher, Mrs Frecknal immediately saw a sensory learning opportunity.

 

 

 So the paper was torn and then rained down upon our VI pupil and her friend.

 



 

 The whole experience was met with great enthusiasm as well as a lot of laughter!

 

 

 There was no stopping the children from then making their own paper rain!

 

 

 

To engage the Visually Impaired it sometimes take a little bit of thinking outside of the box. For our Yr R pupils this has been happening all year to give activities meaning and a purpose within the context of their impairment.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horse Riding at HRTC

 

 The Oasis 'Riding-out!'



 

As part of our 'Additional Curriculum' we plan a specific VI visit every term.

This term we were very fortunate to receive a grant from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Educational Trust for the Blind, that enabled us to provide something a little 'special'.

We contacted the Hampshire Riding Therapy Centre just outside Winchester to investigate the possibility of taking our pupils horse riding!

 

 

 

For many of our pupils this was their first encounter with a horse. There were some nerves present as we go kitted out with helmets. Many of the children had never ridden before.

 



Then the children lined up in the courtyard and waited patiently as each child was matched to an appropriate 'steed'.

 



Introductions were made...

 

The children were encouraged to use all of their senses to 'engage' with their horse. For our Reg. blind pupils this is an essential part to building their concept of what a horse is.

 

 

 

The staff at HRTC were fantastically helpful and encouraging with our pupils and the nerves in the tack room soon melted away as the children settled into their saddles!

 

Once everyone was ready we then formed an orderly column and stepped out onto the lane.

 

While riding the children got to know their horse and also their handlers. There was some great social interaction.

 

 We were blessed with a beautiful summers day. The children loved the 'green tunnel' formed by the roadside trees. It created a sense of being 'enclosed' with the sound of the horses hooves on the road being 'muffled back'.

As we trekked up the lane, a slight incline in the road made for an interesting sensory experience for the children, having to lean back to maintain stability. For many children who require physiotherapy to strengthen muscles, horse riding is becoming one popular means to this end.

 

We have a visitor from the USA this week looking at VI provision in the UK, and he was thrilled to see these medieval farm buildings, including this amazing thatched barn...it was huge!

You can't get more 'English countryside than this!'

 



That also included the obligatory horse poo, which he avoided skilfully!

 

On returning to the stables it was time to dismount.

For some children this was a challenge as their visual impairment affects their depth perception, so stepping down can to them, be a leap of faith! But no one faltered, every child was fantastic!

 

 

After some fond farewell's...

 

 

And a little more concept development of 'what is a horse?'

 

 

 

It was time for a late lunch....with loads of chat.....

 

.....and then there was this little chap. In 'Horse Hospital' with an upset tummy! Well he got lots of TLC from all of us....and it was agreed he had the softest most velvety nose ever!!

 

Thanks to all the staff and volunteers at the Hampshire Riding Therapy Centre, we all had a fantastic time, the children really appreciated your friendliness and energy.

A huge THANK YOU to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Educational trust for the Blind. Your sponsorship gave all of our pupils a visit to remember!