Snowboarding,
climbing, riding, hockey, cookery and pottery are all on the Action
Plan during the Wednesday activity afternoons at Southlands School.
Southlands is the Hesley Group residential school for secondary
age boys who have Asperger Syndrome.
Providing
a broad range of activities that will help the boys develop socialisation
and communication skills in a different setting to the classroom
is essential for these young people. A person with Asperger Syndrome
will have difficulty understanding and participating in ordinary,
everyday activities such as taking turns, holding a conversation,
considering others and in understanding their own place in the world
around them. Their intellect is usually unimpaired by the syndrome,
however, and these young people may become quite distressed when
they begin to realise that they are not making much sense of the
world around them. They may begin to feel like outsiders, and eventually,
in some cases, become frustrated with and even aggressive towards
this apparently uninterested ‘other’ world. Mike Johns,
deputy head at Southlands, feels strongly that “It is essential
that we prepare them for life outside, and we won’t achieve
that by keeping them here.”
A choice
of hobbies and sports gives the boys the chance to practice speaking
and listening skills and appropriate social behaviours. Improved
coordination is another benefit, as several of the students have
dyspraxia, which affects their motor skills and organisational abilities.
One group visits the Calshott Activities Centre near Southampton
to take part in abseiling, archery, climbing and snowboarding. During
the summer, sailing courses are added to the list of activities
available.
“It
is really fun ,” said Daniel Bendelman, a Year 11 pupil who
has already tried the low-ropes course. “It’s an escape
from school for a couple of hours and you’re trying new things.
You learn to get over your fears and it’s nice to experience
something a bit different.”
Meanwhile,
in the pottery room at Southlands, students can concentrate on a
less strenuous programme of activities. Pauline Bradbury is the
pottery teacher. “The pupils themselves can choose what they
make, as this will give them the motivation to finish their projects.”
So far the boys have produced a variety of wonderful clay pieces,
ranging from dragons to bowls and glazed pots.
Students
have also taken part in a drugs awareness programme organised by
the Southlands link policeman, PC Donaldson.
At
first, a few of the students disliked the change in their usual
weekly routine; they found it hard to switch off and relax. To help
in this area, Southlands have now introduced sessions covering relaxation
techniques to the Wednesday programme.
