Latest news with #RivertreeFreeSchool
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mental health day for Kempston Send pupils 'incredible'
Mental health workshops and activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) have been "incredible", a head teacher said. BBC Three Counties Radio's Headfest event was held in Kempston, Bedfordshire, at the Rivertree Free School, which opened in February. Children got a chance to plant cress with Mr Bloom, from CBeebies, see animals at a mobile farm, make art, play sports and take part in musical movement sessions. Head teacher Clare Breare said the event had given her pupils many "rich experiences" they would not normally be able to access. Ms Breare said being able to host the event was "unthinkable" and her pupils had called it "party day" . "To have the names and the activities that have been offered- it's inexplicable," she added."Our children wouldn't necessarily go out on trips to see Mr Bloom and they wouldn't necessarily spend much time at the farm with their families, so to have it in a safe place, with safe adults, and know they're going to access something that's just incredible for their wellbeing, I cannot tell you how excited I am." Children from Grange Academy also took part. Lily played football and basketball and said the day had made her feel "happy". Cody, 11, said he liked visiting a new school and said it made him feel happy as he had made new friends. Samuel, 12, made some art and said it was "good to see the animals". Mr Bloom, from CBeebies, held a number of gardening workshops. He said gardening can help your mental healt,h and children tell him that it makes them feel calm, happy, positive, good and relaxed. "Nature is absolutely fantastic, we depend on it, and it gives us everything we need," he said. "It just makes us feel good, if we take care of nature, nature will take care of you." Catherine Assink, the chief executive and executive principal of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust, which runs the school, said the "ethos of mental health and wellbeing" was in everything it does. She said the day was amazing and added: "What an opportunity [we've had] to share with our local community our schools, and having other main stream schools coming in to share the day and to celebrate mental health and what we can do to belong as a community and to raise the profile of our Send pupils." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bedford pupils will 'thrive' as Send school opens after delay
A new special educational needs and disabilities (Send) school that was due to open in Autumn 2024 is welcoming pupils this Monday after delays caused by a redesign. The £26m Rivertree Free School in Kempston, near Bedford, which will eventually cater for 200 pupils, will be the second biggest school in the country for pupils who predominantly have learning disabilities, severe learning disabilities or are chief executive of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust (BILTT) Catherine Assink said the delay in opening "was due to construction" said the opening was being staggered with the first cohort of 60 children starting on Monday followed by another 60 in September and then in 2026 that would rise to 200 in total. "It is such an opportunity to deliver more exceptional education for SEND pupils across Bedfordshire and surrounding counties," she added. In December, the BILTT said the delay was due to identifying the "particular needs of the children who will be starting at the school and [we] have re-evaluated certain aspects of the building's design". Parents had expressed concerns about the lack of communication over the delay to the opening. BILTT had told parents in a letter that the delay was due to the "ongoing finalisation of a fit-for-purpose building" and once it had taken possession of the site it needed to install "essential safeguarding measures".Ms Assink said she thought this lack of communication had been resolved and they "had a fantastic day with parents coming in to look at the school which we could not do previously as the school was not ready". She said that the hydrotherapy pool and the sensory and immersion rooms "will be great places for the pupils to thrive" and "take them around the world" where they achieve the school's motto of "dream, discover and develop".She said the number of Send pupils was "dramatically rising" across the country and if "we had three Rivertrees it would not be enough". Clare Breare, head teacher of Rivertree, said: "Our staff and families know that their [child's] confidence, independence and aspirations will be extremely well catered for." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
