APS Support Shepherds Down School – Please help support them post Covid-19

Shepherds Down School heroically has been open throughout Covid 19 , only closing during the May half term week. The school has been supporting those parents who are key workers and those children that would find it too disruptive by not having the routine of school.

They started off with 23 children attending, but has gradually increased to where they are now with 105 of the 158 children attending. Most children are only doing two or three days a week, so that they have no more than 80 in school at one time. Social distancing is difficult with the children, so they are kept in small bubbles and do not mix with many children.

Shepherds Down School is finding that with those children returning, they are having difficulties with sensory processing. This means they find it difficult to receive and respond to information that is received through their senses. When the system does not function well, the result is agitation, lack of attention, anxiety, inability to ignore distraction and hypersensitivity. This has a significant impact on their learning if not addressed.

The school receives input from a specialist Operational Therapist in this field and the programmes put in place are often referred to as a “sensory diet”. It can include regular exercise, bouncing on a trampoline, squeezing, wobble cushions, weighed jackets, etc. The cost of this input is £10,000 a year. We know given the prolonged period with little schooling for many of the children this will be a critical service from September.

APS has supported Shepherds down school over the last few years, providing mud kitchens and our staff painting the canteen area. Being that the School is more need than ever we are reaching out to our network and asking you to kindly contribute.

Please follow the link here and support Shepherds Down School crowdfunding appeal.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/shepherdsdown-1?tk=6a3af6b6fb12ea71b977a8b0666b2cb6c4b844d4