Staff and contractors help build sensory garden at Corbets Tey School, Upminster
Staff from Swan Housing Group lent some muscle in a bid to create a sensory garden at Corbets Tey School, Upminster this weekend.
Corbets Tey is a special day school for more than 100 children and young people aged 4 to 16 with learning challenges, including autism, language difficulties and a number of medical syndromes.
A team of around 20 staff from Swan and its partner organisations joined forces with staff and friends of the school to build the sensory garden of the weekend of 27/28th June 2008.
The sensory garden was designed to provide a number of separate beds and paths providing different sensory experiences in close proximity to each other. As the pupils move through the garden they will experience a range of sights, sounds, smells and feelings.
Small groups of pupils will be able to take a sensory journey, developing sound making and musical appreciation, language acquisition and use; maths shapes and counting, science topics, life skills through maintaining the garden. They will have a beautiful area to enjoy and feel safe and happy.
Corbets Tey School Headteacher, Mr Colin Arthey said: ‘This is a wonderful project and we are indebted to the managers and staff of Swan Housing and Axis Europe. Also to other companies and businesses who have contributed to the project through donations and provision of equipment. The sensory garden will offer a significant improvement to the school’s facilities. The children will benefit from having a wonderful garden environment to develop in a multitude of ways. Our children will love the garden opportunity in which to work and collectively experience sensory enrichment.’
Terry Bird, Director of Asset Management at Swan Housing Group said: ‘We are really proud of the contribution we were able to make by helping construct the sensory garden. I hope that the garden will provide a long lasting legacy for the young people at the school.’
Materials for sensory garden has been jointly funded through a £5,000 donation by Swan Housing Group its partner Axis and one of their key suppliers Travis Perkins.