The EVC Magazine Spring 2025 - Flipbook - Page 14
Land and Wave School Trips
School story
STARS IN THEIR EYES
Nottinghamshire’s Hospital and Home Education Learning Centre
wanted to offer its students their first ever residential visit.
EVC Craig Matthews explains how the plan came together
The Hospital and Home Education Learning Centre
(HHELC) is an education service for primary and
secondary students who are unable to access mainstream
education due to personal, social and medical needs.
Many of our students had never been on any kind of
educational visit, never mind a residential. We knew
they would benefit from the experience, so we set about
organising the first HHELC residential visit to YHA Edale in
the Peak District for a group of Year 8–11 students.
Back at the school, we held pre-visit meetings with the
students, parents and carers, to answer their questions
and deal with any concerns. We explained that we had a
plan B (and C, D and E) for every activity so that, should
anyone feel overwhelmed, there was still something they
could take part in and succeed at. We also reassured them
that the staff who were going on the visit knew the pupils
well, and had experience of residential visits.
"MY EDALE JOURNAL"
We arranged an advance visit to Edale to discuss our
students’ needs with the staff and activity leaders. We
went through everything from accommodation, facilities
and food to activities and equipment needed – even what
bedding would be used (very important for our students
with sensory issues). We took lots of photos so the
students would know exactly what to expect.
“
We talked to each student about what they would like to
achieve on the visit, and we worked with them to make
a booklet to fill in while they were away. This reminded
them what they wanted to achieve, it was a fantastic
souvenir of their adventures and it made evaluating the
visit so much easier.
I honestly didn’t think I’d make it a night, I’d never been away
from home before, but I surprised myself and for the first
time in ages, I was proud of myself J.C., Year 10
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