WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.680 Hi, my name is Jordan. I am a special education 00:00:02.680 --> 00:00:06.160 teacher from the UK. I share my passion for everything 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:09.119 communication, sensory regulation and fun lesson 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:11.660 ideas for my classroom of disabled pupils aged 00:00:11.660 --> 00:00:15.300 4 to 11. Each week I am joined by experts in 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:17.640 the field answering your questions and sharing 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:19.559 our knowledge and experience working alongside 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:22.539 our beautiful young people. Let's get started. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.559 Hello everybody and welcome to the Sensory Classroom 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:33.420 podcast. My name is Jordan and today I am joined 00:00:33.420 --> 00:00:36.060 by Abby and Kirsty from Our Space which is a 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:39.740 respite activity centre and I was very keen to 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:42.140 have them on because I have a history of being 00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:45.039 a foster carer and we had a 10 year old autistic 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:48.100 boy who was out of school for the whole of the 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:51.159 10 months that we had him and if it wasn't for 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:53.840 our local respite centre and activity centre 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:56.579 we wouldn't have lasted 10 months. We probably 00:00:56.579 --> 00:00:58.820 would have lasted about three weeks with him. 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:01.340 And he would have lasted three weeks with us, 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:03.380 should I say. Neither of us would have coped. 00:01:03.380 --> 00:01:06.319 It was very intense without the schooling. I 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:08.980 was having to be parent, social worker, teacher, 00:01:09.099 --> 00:01:12.319 and all of those things. And those few hours 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:15.280 after school time or a few hours on a Saturday 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:18.599 really just gave us the respite we needed, which 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:22.150 looked like... Days out with my husband, tidying 00:01:22.150 --> 00:01:24.189 the house, getting the shopping in, doing all 00:01:24.189 --> 00:01:26.170 the boring things so that I could be present 00:01:26.170 --> 00:01:28.090 with him and be everything he needed when he 00:01:28.090 --> 00:01:34.010 was with us. And so I'm a huge advocate for respite. 00:01:34.010 --> 00:01:36.469 So I'm very pleased that our space are here. 00:01:36.849 --> 00:01:41.430 Hello, girls. Hi. So it's Abby and Kirsty. Yes, 00:01:41.430 --> 00:01:44.150 Abby, Kirsty. Do you want to tell us a little 00:01:44.150 --> 00:01:47.030 bit about what our space is and where you are? 00:01:47.549 --> 00:01:49.430 Yeah, absolutely. So we have a little bit of 00:01:49.430 --> 00:01:52.569 a respite centre. It stems from working with 00:01:52.569 --> 00:01:55.549 schools and meeting the families, knowing that 00:01:55.549 --> 00:01:58.969 they needed something. So it's basically weekly 00:01:58.969 --> 00:02:01.129 activities. They can put them in for an hour 00:02:01.129 --> 00:02:03.909 on an evening to do the Tesco shop, get their 00:02:03.909 --> 00:02:06.209 nails done. And then we do arts and crafts on 00:02:06.209 --> 00:02:09.050 weekends and then we offer every half term and 00:02:09.050 --> 00:02:11.530 holidays as much as we can, including bank holidays. 00:02:11.629 --> 00:02:15.110 We did a Christmas shopping day for parents so 00:02:15.110 --> 00:02:17.439 they could go do the Christmas shopping. We just 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:20.219 literally provide as much support for the families 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:23.580 as possible. And we always sit in a safe and 00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:27.280 nurturing environment. And that is as basic as 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:30.400 it is, but it's so important. What young people 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.939 are you catering for? Could you describe the 00:02:33.939 --> 00:02:36.259 kind of cohort, if you will? yeah absolutely 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:39.020 so our children are mainly predominantly primary 00:02:39.020 --> 00:02:42.219 ages um they're kind of from three four yeah 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:45.060 take them from and they all have some sort of 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:46.740 additional needs they do not have to have an 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:49.500 ehcp but they are always on a journey to that 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:52.219 so we've got children who are currently going 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:54.719 through the assessments doctor's appointments 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:57.400 have had kind of where they're at so our children 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:58.759 all have some sort of additional needs whether 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:02.210 it be autism within the autism the PDA and how 00:03:02.210 --> 00:03:03.909 that looks we've got children who are completely 00:03:03.909 --> 00:03:06.750 offset from school due to just simple anxieties 00:03:06.750 --> 00:03:09.430 of going into school so that's kind of our cohort 00:03:09.430 --> 00:03:13.110 it is primary ages with additional needs do not 00:03:13.110 --> 00:03:15.210 have to have a diagnosis however they're on a 00:03:15.210 --> 00:03:18.300 pathway to that Yeah, it just takes so long now, 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:19.979 doesn't it? That's really great that that's not 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:21.979 a barrier because that would be a huge barrier 00:03:21.979 --> 00:03:24.719 for just so many needing families. Yeah, and 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:26.500 we're actually supporting them now on their journey 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:28.819 so we can give the evidence of what we see and 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:31.020 the things that when they are at our space, they 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:34.430 do tend to unmask. don't they were in that in 00:03:34.430 --> 00:03:36.810 that environment so we can say this is what they're 00:03:36.810 --> 00:03:38.909 like at our space and this is the difference 00:03:38.909 --> 00:03:40.810 to them in school and they can all put that into 00:03:40.810 --> 00:03:43.509 the evidence to go forward for a diagnosis and 00:03:43.509 --> 00:03:46.650 an actual proper assessment on that so that's 00:03:46.650 --> 00:03:48.370 been really helpful to some of the parents because 00:03:48.370 --> 00:03:50.750 otherwise they just wouldn't have it i know some 00:03:50.750 --> 00:03:53.909 respite only offer it with an ehcp and so we 00:03:53.909 --> 00:03:56.469 didn't want to put that that another wall again 00:03:56.469 --> 00:03:59.110 against them yeah Especially if they're out of 00:03:59.110 --> 00:04:01.169 school, you know, you're a really important professional 00:04:01.169 --> 00:04:04.669 in the family's lives that can give an insight, 00:04:04.849 --> 00:04:07.009 can't you? If school can't or if school don't 00:04:07.009 --> 00:04:08.990 have the big broad picture, if they're not seeing 00:04:08.990 --> 00:04:11.110 them all the time because they're school refusing 00:04:11.110 --> 00:04:15.289 or suspended or whatever that looks like. What 00:04:15.289 --> 00:04:17.870 does your centre look like, Kirsty? Can you describe 00:04:17.870 --> 00:04:21.269 it for me? It's full of pastel colours. We designed 00:04:21.269 --> 00:04:22.829 it, didn't we? We wanted it to be bright and 00:04:22.829 --> 00:04:24.949 colourful. And it's, yeah, we've got a sensory 00:04:24.949 --> 00:04:27.230 room for those that want to be out of the way 00:04:27.230 --> 00:04:29.350 if they need to be. We've got our kitchen area 00:04:29.350 --> 00:04:31.410 where most of our messy play is. And then we've 00:04:31.410 --> 00:04:34.089 got a more activity room, haven't we? Free flow. 00:04:34.089 --> 00:04:36.189 Free flow. So there's lots of activities in there 00:04:36.189 --> 00:04:38.389 that they can just free flow throughout the whole 00:04:38.389 --> 00:04:40.209 area. Yeah, is that how you do it? It's quite 00:04:40.209 --> 00:04:41.930 child led. It's free flow. And then you've got 00:04:41.930 --> 00:04:43.550 some kind of organised activities if they want 00:04:43.550 --> 00:04:45.810 to. If they want to, yeah. Yeah, which we try 00:04:45.810 --> 00:04:47.529 and get them all involved in, don't we? But if 00:04:47.529 --> 00:04:49.170 they don't want to, that's totally fine. Some 00:04:49.170 --> 00:04:50.790 of them like to be independent and play on their 00:04:50.790 --> 00:04:54.230 own, which is fine, yeah. Amazing. Also, so important 00:04:54.230 --> 00:04:58.470 about siblings as well. Last week, we had a sibling 00:04:58.470 --> 00:05:01.490 of somebody with a disability on, talking about 00:05:01.490 --> 00:05:03.430 her experience of being a sibling and how important 00:05:03.430 --> 00:05:06.370 respite came up a lot in that as well. Respite 00:05:06.370 --> 00:05:09.029 so that they could spend time with their parents 00:05:09.029 --> 00:05:11.949 one -on -one. which is really important for the 00:05:11.949 --> 00:05:14.569 sibling but also a place to go together i don't 00:05:14.569 --> 00:05:15.930 know if you offer that but a place to go together 00:05:15.930 --> 00:05:18.410 so they can share a safe experience together 00:05:18.410 --> 00:05:21.709 as a family as a unit that they knew was safe 00:05:21.709 --> 00:05:24.170 and suitable for their disabled sibling but also 00:05:24.170 --> 00:05:26.610 they could have fun too do you offer any kind 00:05:26.610 --> 00:05:30.709 of family -based things as well Yeah, so we do 00:05:30.709 --> 00:05:33.050 offer loads of family things. We've done parties 00:05:33.050 --> 00:05:36.069 with families there and we stay in place if parents 00:05:36.069 --> 00:05:38.430 come in and we've done parent catch -up, cup 00:05:38.430 --> 00:05:40.509 of tea and catch -up sort of things as well without 00:05:40.509 --> 00:05:42.649 the children and with the children. With the 00:05:42.649 --> 00:05:44.610 sibling things, it's really interesting because 00:05:44.610 --> 00:05:47.949 we've got two children who both have additional 00:05:47.949 --> 00:05:50.350 needs but the mum puts them in separately so 00:05:50.350 --> 00:05:52.649 she can spend that individual time with each 00:05:52.649 --> 00:05:55.959 one because together it's really tricky. So that's 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:57.920 really interesting. Actually, she doesn't want 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.040 them both there for respite. She wants one -on 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.660 -one time with that child. And it's important 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:04.300 they have their own club, what you're saying, 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:07.120 that they come and it's their club, their friends 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:09.199 that are there. They may not even talk to these 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.819 other children, but they're there every week 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:12.879 with the same children. It's familiar for them. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:16.420 Yeah, it's familiar. It's safe. Yeah. And that's 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:18.639 what, that is kind of it. But yeah, the family 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.279 things is really important. And we've said it 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:23.850 from the beginning, haven't we? It being... a 00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:26.449 family environment we support them on their journeys 00:06:26.449 --> 00:06:29.470 no matter what we often get messages from them 00:06:29.470 --> 00:06:30.970 on an evening like they've had a really rough 00:06:30.970 --> 00:06:32.689 night and they want to talk about it they just 00:06:32.689 --> 00:06:35.790 want to rant someone understands and we are them 00:06:35.790 --> 00:06:39.350 people do you know what i mean and we did a celebrations 00:06:39.350 --> 00:06:41.170 evening as well didn't we where they invited 00:06:41.170 --> 00:06:43.009 their families as well so the siblings could 00:06:43.009 --> 00:06:47.139 come along and as um as easter get together as 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:48.759 well we did an Easter get together with like 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:50.980 Easter Bunny and stuff so yeah the families all 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:52.600 come together for that which is nice and they 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.339 start talking to each other and yeah sort of 00:06:55.339 --> 00:06:57.139 saying to each other I don't really dare go to 00:06:57.139 --> 00:06:59.519 play gyms and I don't dare do this and I don't 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:01.980 dare do that whereas they can come to ours and 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:05.100 it can be as chaotic as they want and they know 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:07.379 we all just get it like yeah you've got you know 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:10.180 if someone's in crisis the other parents just 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:12.620 understand and there's no embarrassment no shame 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:15.240 and it's don't get me wrong it takes a while 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:18.120 to develop that atmosphere and environment to 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:21.360 parents we constantly have to say don't worry 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:24.339 we understand just it's fine and other parents 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:27.139 do vocally speak up and say that as well but 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:29.339 I think that's a natural instinct in all parents, 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:32.180 isn't it, to panic if their child goes into crisis 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:33.500 or, you know, they're going to have an outcome. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:35.939 Yeah, because every other environment ever in 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:38.600 their whole life, they're judged and made to 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:41.779 feel shameful and like they shouldn't be out 00:07:41.779 --> 00:07:44.660 and about in the world. So it must be really 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:48.000 alien and really lovely, but alien probably at 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.089 first, to feel like they're accepted. Yeah. and 00:07:52.089 --> 00:07:54.430 but they are they really are accepted our space 00:07:54.430 --> 00:07:56.870 and with the other families every single one 00:07:56.870 --> 00:07:59.009 of them is accepted and they're all so different 00:07:59.009 --> 00:08:01.509 as well you know they're so different and i think 00:08:01.509 --> 00:08:03.990 that's been a massive journey for us in terms 00:08:03.990 --> 00:08:06.689 of respite is welcoming them because it's not 00:08:06.689 --> 00:08:08.350 the same as an after -school club where they 00:08:08.350 --> 00:08:11.209 can all book on we have to timetable these children 00:08:11.209 --> 00:08:13.050 we've got certain children who just wouldn't 00:08:13.050 --> 00:08:15.430 be able to be together and we've got children 00:08:15.430 --> 00:08:17.670 that actually would really benefit each other 00:08:17.670 --> 00:08:21.189 being together so we've got to It takes such 00:08:21.189 --> 00:08:24.050 a long time to really timetable it. But we don't 00:08:24.050 --> 00:08:25.509 want to ever say no. We don't want to say no 00:08:25.509 --> 00:08:28.209 to the parents because that's the worst option 00:08:28.209 --> 00:08:32.710 that they really need it. Yeah, I know firsthand 00:08:32.710 --> 00:08:37.590 that feeling for sure. It was an absolute lifeline, 00:08:37.730 --> 00:08:41.669 I have to say. It was a real lifeline. And he 00:08:41.669 --> 00:08:45.059 loved it as well. So there was also no... worry 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:47.820 there of or guilt for me thinking oh it's my 00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:49.659 time you know it was both of our time we were 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:51.860 both getting what we needed and that separation 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.360 was equally important you mentioned at the beginning 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:58.940 like a bit about why you got into it about school 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:01.440 and that you noticed a need for respite could 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:04.039 you talk a little bit about your initial thoughts 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:07.039 and ideas around that and why why this came to 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:09.980 be what you saw happening in school yeah so we 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:16.169 worked within a quite recently a few years ago 00:09:16.169 --> 00:09:18.730 they made like a provision for SEN children and 00:09:18.730 --> 00:09:20.330 there were always SEN children throughout the 00:09:20.330 --> 00:09:22.210 school but nothing in particular for them so 00:09:22.210 --> 00:09:23.929 then we had a handful of children that started 00:09:23.929 --> 00:09:26.389 in there and we found ourselves drawn to that 00:09:26.389 --> 00:09:27.909 didn't we we used to go in even on his breaks 00:09:27.909 --> 00:09:30.269 and stuff and yeah we really enjoyed like working 00:09:30.269 --> 00:09:32.190 with those children and then it was seeing the 00:09:32.190 --> 00:09:33.750 parents when they were picking them up or dropping 00:09:33.750 --> 00:09:35.269 them off in the morning if they'd had a bit of 00:09:35.269 --> 00:09:38.070 a dysregulated morning and things and knowing 00:09:38.070 --> 00:09:40.629 that they had to go home then to it again so 00:09:40.629 --> 00:09:42.590 we felt like they were a huge need and we had 00:09:42.590 --> 00:09:44.720 a lot of passion for it. So, yeah, that's where 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.440 it really stems from. Yeah, it was. It genuinely 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:49.179 was the meeting the families. And I'm a mum and 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:52.750 I know how long the evenings are from. half three 00:09:52.750 --> 00:09:55.929 till seven o 'clock of you know like providing 00:09:55.929 --> 00:09:57.870 them with activities to do and keeping them entertained 00:09:57.870 --> 00:09:59.929 and if they're just a little bit off that evening 00:09:59.929 --> 00:10:02.250 it's such a long evening but my little girl can 00:10:02.250 --> 00:10:04.370 go to dancing she can go to gymnastics she can 00:10:04.370 --> 00:10:06.590 go for these children it's they can't go access 00:10:06.590 --> 00:10:08.830 a mainstream club it's too it's too overwhelming 00:10:08.830 --> 00:10:10.870 for them they just can't cope with it so I was 00:10:10.870 --> 00:10:13.070 like these poor parents have got nowhere to take 00:10:13.070 --> 00:10:14.990 them on an evening or even just to feel their 00:10:14.990 --> 00:10:18.750 child fits into a certain place so yes it's respite 00:10:18.750 --> 00:10:22.659 of course it is but it's vital for the families 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:26.259 and children to feel that that sort of neurotypical 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:28.919 club where actually it's not neurotypical it's 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:31.059 completely the opposite but they feel like it 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:32.440 is because they're just dropping the kids off 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.039 at a club we love them we create so many different 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:37.820 activities for them and they can parents can 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:40.059 go and sit and have a coffee they can they can 00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:42.139 do whatever they want for that hour and what 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:45.879 I find as well Parents making excuses. So I'm 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:47.000 going to go home and I'm clean. I'm going to 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.039 do this. And I think, go home and sit down. Do 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:51.720 nothing. Because it is so hard when you've got 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:53.799 the children. Do you know what I mean? From my 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:57.259 mum's point of view as well, do nothing. Because 00:10:57.259 --> 00:11:00.299 we love having your kids. And you don't have 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:03.879 to make any excuses for them being with us. So, 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:07.019 yeah, it all stemmed from meeting the families 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:09.379 and them just not having that extra support on 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:11.019 an evening and weekend as soon as the kids are 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:14.490 out of school. And that was his first day and 00:11:14.490 --> 00:11:16.570 wanted it just to do the odd evening, wanted 00:11:16.570 --> 00:11:22.350 it an hour each. How many children have you got 00:11:22.350 --> 00:11:26.730 access in your setting? So it's a family of families, 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:30.250 yeah. Amazing. About three children do that. 00:11:30.350 --> 00:11:33.669 Yeah. But it soon, very quickly, it grew. I think 00:11:33.669 --> 00:11:36.070 it was the opening evening, because we always 00:11:36.070 --> 00:11:38.250 say it's really important that the families come 00:11:38.250 --> 00:11:40.639 to meet. us and we meet the families before they 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:42.799 book anything just to make sure that they're 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.919 happy with us they're so protective over the 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:47.399 children as every single parent is so they've 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.360 got to be happy with who they're sending their 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:51.299 children to so we did like an opening evening 00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:53.519 for them to come and meet us and the amount of 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:55.580 people walking through the door i said to Kirsty 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:59.039 i cannot believe there is not things around here 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:01.639 for these parents i felt really emotional that 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:03.500 they really needed this yeah we knew they needed 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.700 it but i don't think we knew how much they needed 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.899 it how much yeah interesting yeah because they're 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:10.259 very unseen aren't they if they don't feel safe 00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:12.740 and like the outside world is safe for their 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:16.179 children then they're indoor families so we don't 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:18.940 see them out and about you won't know how many 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:22.440 there are or the need until you create a provision 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:25.440 like this and you see there is such a huge need 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.620 out there all different sorts of families that 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:31.519 are seeking this I have had some parents though 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.860 in the past I don't know what you would say to 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:36.000 this that I have suggested respite and they've 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.519 been really nervous about it of all ages. Some 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:40.720 of them because, oh no, they're too young or, 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:44.580 oh no, like I'm fine. Like I'd rather me struggle 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:46.139 than like, I wouldn't want to put that burden 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.659 on anyone else. You know, that's another thought 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:51.399 that I'm getting. And also just the fear of trusting 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:55.679 someone else with their... precious child who 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:59.039 is very complex either poorly or you know behavioral 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.960 or sensory wise or whatever they're quite complex 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:05.080 and and need them you know they're the only ones 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:06.879 that can meet their needs even family members 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.799 can't meet their needs even family members haven't 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:10.679 looked after them without them they might have 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:13.259 never had a night apart and they might be seven 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:17.539 eight nine ten i'm hearing that what would you 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:19.460 say to reassure those parents or what do you 00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:22.730 offer in order to support them to transition 00:13:22.730 --> 00:13:26.330 and and enter a setting like yours it's really 00:13:26.330 --> 00:13:29.690 important we take it at their speed because we 00:13:29.690 --> 00:13:33.429 have 100 had this where we we're actually saying 00:13:33.429 --> 00:13:36.509 to the parents this child could benefit so much 00:13:36.509 --> 00:13:38.830 from being in a small group and they say they 00:13:38.830 --> 00:13:41.909 just walk up they walk up and i'm like just trust 00:13:41.909 --> 00:13:43.830 us i asked i feel like i say that all the time 00:13:43.830 --> 00:13:46.529 please just trust us because i promise you they 00:13:46.529 --> 00:13:48.789 will and i promise you we will do everything 00:13:48.789 --> 00:13:52.889 in our power to to be and create strategies for 00:13:52.889 --> 00:13:55.870 them to be able to cope. We're not just two random 00:13:55.870 --> 00:13:57.649 girls who have gone, ah, I love these kids, let's 00:13:57.649 --> 00:14:00.429 get a hug. We've done the training. We're so 00:14:00.429 --> 00:14:02.730 clued up on little things. Every single child's 00:14:02.730 --> 00:14:06.070 different. And we would work towards that specific 00:14:06.070 --> 00:14:08.649 child. So it's just reassuring them as much as 00:14:08.649 --> 00:14:10.769 we can. But I don't think you can fully reassure 00:14:10.769 --> 00:14:13.610 them until they start doing it. I think until 00:14:13.610 --> 00:14:17.799 they're ready, you can't. talk them into it until 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:20.179 they just try out one of the sessions. We had 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:22.019 one mum, didn't we? Yeah. Are you thinking of 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:24.740 the CIO? Her, yeah. She messaged us, didn't she? 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:26.279 She wanted to, like, see what we were about. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:28.080 She came, I think, to a meet and greet as well, 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.899 didn't she? But I think she was still nervous. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:33.080 And then recently we've started going into that 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:34.820 child's school, working with a different child. 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:38.019 And it just so happened one day that we managed 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:40.460 to do a session with her, didn't we? And then, 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:42.440 yeah, now she comes to our holiday clubs and, 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:46.759 you know, we've built that. that trust yeah so 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:50.419 it's nice but she used to say things like nobody 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:54.200 understands her like I do and which is true nobody 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:56.019 understands their child like their own you can 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:58.120 tell by the way they breathe sometimes that they're 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:00.960 just not quite right but I always say but we 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:03.399 will we'll learn and we have like an about we 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.299 have a like a profile passport sort of thing 00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.960 we make it as fun and quirky as we can because 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.940 we think they're filling so many boring papers 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.639 every single day we've tried to make ours really 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:15.179 fun and but I always say put what you want on 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:17.440 there But it's so important that we learn about 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:19.840 them ourselves, you know, from the beginning. 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:22.279 Yes, if they don't like water, tell us they don't 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.500 like water. We're not going to start throwing 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:26.299 water around. But sometimes they'll say they 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:28.279 hate messy play, but when they're with us, they 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.620 actually enjoy it. So I say, just let us learn 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:32.059 about them a little bit as well. And if they 00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:34.620 were to get dysregulated, we can totally solve 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:36.679 that. Do you know, like, please trust us. So 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:39.620 it is just until they take the first step into 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:42.480 it and realise how important it is and how much 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.080 they've not been themselves for... four or five 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:48.419 years they've just been little jimmy's mom now 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:51.120 actually they are themselves again they can be 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.220 not just month they could be something else as 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:56.759 well and seeing them do hobbies um and seeing 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:58.340 them actually spend time with their partners 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:00.539 going out i've seen that they'd gone out for 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:02.799 brunch one couple had gone out for brunch that 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:05.899 day and it really like hurts your heart doesn't 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.779 it because you're like they've actually gone 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:08.100 out for brunch and they're having drinks and 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:10.220 they're enjoying themselves and while we've got 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:13.000 their little precious human that you say and 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.159 they're having the best time and we do take a 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.840 lot of photos and videos and send them and that's 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:20.220 really important to us that they get that constant 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:24.120 update if they want it and so i think until you 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:27.120 put your toe in our space water then you'll you'll 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.460 run within and you just learn to trust as you 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:34.779 go along yeah what does your in school support 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:37.919 look like because did you say you do in support 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:41.460 in school as well yeah um yeah so we go and do 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:43.799 like we can do one -to -one intensive interactions 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:46.419 or we do group sessions just on their abilities 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:49.460 as well we have varied groups don't we um and 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:52.220 then we do free flow activities with them sensory 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:55.019 play also to have the respite for the for the 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:56.980 staff as well because so many times we're going 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.399 to schools don't we and they're just looking 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:01.519 after a full class but with these other children. 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.980 It's nice that they get our full attention as 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:07.309 well. the people go in that understand them and 00:17:07.309 --> 00:17:09.470 know what they need but that's i think that's 00:17:09.470 --> 00:17:10.890 something i feel really passionate about them 00:17:10.890 --> 00:17:13.569 and it is mainstream skills in schools inundated 00:17:13.569 --> 00:17:16.190 with children with additional needs who necessarily 00:17:16.190 --> 00:17:18.569 need a different provision but just can't access 00:17:18.569 --> 00:17:20.950 it at the moment while the you know the battle 00:17:20.950 --> 00:17:23.509 of fighting it and the staff they're absolutely 00:17:23.509 --> 00:17:25.609 exhausted they're exhausted because they're trying 00:17:25.609 --> 00:17:28.670 their best to give everything they can to the 00:17:28.670 --> 00:17:31.250 class in general then the additional needs that 00:17:31.250 --> 00:17:33.529 they've got in that classroom and actually they're 00:17:33.529 --> 00:17:36.119 exhausted and they need The thing is for me, 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:40.880 if that teacher hasn't got that respite, how 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:43.180 can they be the best of their abilities to the 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:45.339 children that really need it and the children 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:49.000 deserve it? So we go in and give them that sort 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.440 of a full afternoon. They can focus on what they 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.599 need to focus on and then they can have that 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:56.460 little bit of a wellbeing check to then next 00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:58.380 day be back in and give the children what they 00:17:58.380 --> 00:18:01.160 need and deserve because they don't just deserve 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.819 to be in a... corner playing they deserve to 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:07.160 have the the structure the timetables the staffing 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.660 and i feel so passionate about that and so the 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:12.740 fact that schools are reaching out for respite 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:15.059 for their team i thought was just unbelievable 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:18.559 really the first primary schools went to they 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.180 felt guilty that they were working with a child 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.700 that they didn't know what to do they're like 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:24.019 we really love this child but we've not really 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:26.940 shown what to do or how to handle it and it was 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:30.279 really sad to see one yeah because we knew that 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:32.059 us going in just made them a little bit more 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:34.359 excited so we could offer that to them which 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:36.400 were really nice for us to see Yeah, and they 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.259 could almost see what you do as well. It offers 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:40.099 them respect. It also offers them a bit of hands 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.940 -on training, really, doesn't it? They could 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:44.119 watch you, what you do, how you interact with 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:47.180 them and get some ideas. So you're leaving, it's 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:49.200 not just a one -off plaster. You're actually 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:52.440 making real change, long -lasting change. CPD 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:54.740 is really important, isn't it, in that environment 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:57.160 as well. And I always just say, just sit back 00:18:57.160 --> 00:19:00.039 and just watch and look how we talk, look at 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.000 the activities we do. And then we'll often send 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.880 them a massive rundown afterwards, yeah. i think 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.400 they just think we're absolutely crazy at the 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.220 times but um but when you actually do it and 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:11.400 i say please just be consistent with it and be 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:14.279 crazy be weird because that's what they need 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.720 they need someone that's kind of so excited about 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:18.380 the activities that they're doing you just do 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:20.259 it without realizing now don't you i remember 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.880 like the first time we started intensive interactions 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:25.000 we were like oh god i feel so silly but now you 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.500 just you naturally all day don't you yeah yeah 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:29.200 you kind of intensive interactions we used to 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.750 do it as a set which I still would. I'd structure 00:19:31.750 --> 00:19:33.750 it in a class. It's intense for the children 00:19:33.750 --> 00:19:36.049 and it's tiring for the children. But I think 00:19:36.049 --> 00:19:37.829 you're naturally dipping in and out of it all 00:19:37.829 --> 00:19:41.630 day anyway. And that's what I said to the staff 00:19:41.630 --> 00:19:44.690 and the team that they're working with. The word 00:19:44.690 --> 00:19:46.930 respite in schools, I don't think is used enough. 00:19:47.029 --> 00:19:50.460 I think they need it. All the staff need that 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:52.559 respite, especially if they're working with children 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.740 with so many complex different needs that they 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.880 need to cater for. And for us to just jump in 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:59.019 and give them that afternoon, I think they really 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.960 look forward to it as well. Oh, we can do this 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.660 and this and this. And because that child really 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:04.839 struggles in that area, we can actually input 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.940 that on that day while Abby and Kirsty are in. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.940 And as we walk down the corridor, sometimes they're 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:11.200 like. Thank goodness you are here this afternoon. 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:13.519 It's been great. Something I've never heard of, 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:16.279 but it makes so much sense. I really do think 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:18.640 it would help combat the absences and sickness 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:22.440 because of pure exhaustion and burnout as well. 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:25.559 I'm sure you're keeping the team up and going. 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.660 And actually, sometimes it's quite nice just 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:30.539 to have an afternoon off to miss. Remember you 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:33.200 missed them and remember why you're doing it. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.420 And remember, actually, I do quite like it, actually. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:38.119 Whereas when you're in it sometimes, it's easy 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.240 to forget that and kind of get lost in the chaos 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:43.799 of it all and you kind of lose your purpose. 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:47.720 But seeing you guys coming refreshed, give them 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:50.779 a spark. Nice research. Yeah. And also just to 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:53.140 show them, like, there are people out there as 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:55.859 well who are so excited about these children 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:58.759 and that we want to input all this. And I think 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:00.559 you're bound. off each other a bit more as well 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.619 as a team so this support staff was walking around 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:05.700 after me at the day and she went oh i just want 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:07.000 to walk around with you all day and watch what 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.519 you do you know she said i just want to watch 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:11.579 you with this child and um because i think one 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:13.779 of those things is she's going to be a support 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.339 staff and ended up one -to -one with a child 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:17.400 and she's learning and she's on a journey herself 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.980 to find out about this child so she was like 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.559 i just want to watch you all day i'm coming around 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.960 with you all day so it's just nice that actually 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:27.279 we are benefiting the staff when we go in And 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.640 it's quite an isolating job being a one -to -one. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:32.119 I feel like that's where a specialist provision 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:35.279 is easier in a way because at least you've got 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.059 a team around you that you can bounce off and 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:41.140 swap with. But actually these one -to -one teaching 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:43.099 assistants in mainstream schools, it's often 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:45.000 just them and their child and often they're with 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.980 them for a really long time and it's just them 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:50.000 for years and years and years. and it can be 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:53.180 really isolating and really lonely in the corridors 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:56.420 of these schools which they often end up in so 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:58.599 just knowing there's a team out there that are 00:21:58.599 --> 00:22:00.819 rooting for them supporting them see them tell 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.740 them what a great job they're doing give them 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:07.400 that respite must feel so good and that that's 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:10.599 an absolute credit to the SENCOs as well because 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:13.019 they're the ones reaching out to us saying I 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:15.740 haven't got all of this money to give them the 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:18.160 extra support and help and resources but I have 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:21.349 got this to give them so that because I feel 00:22:21.349 --> 00:22:23.819 like they're really struggling to keep them going. 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:25.720 And if they go, look, I'm going to get our space 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:28.640 in, they're going to come in twice a week. So 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.900 that's credit to the Senkos of recognising that 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:33.539 their team need respite, which again, exactly 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:36.140 what you just said. I don't think the word respite 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:38.500 is used in schools because how dare the staff 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.740 have respite? You know, how dare they have a 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:43.380 break from any child because they should love 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:45.519 it. And they do. They're so passionate about 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.779 them. But like you said, they need that little 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:51.190 bit of time to remember. i really wish that out 00:22:51.190 --> 00:22:52.589 of that child was back in here you know if you 00:22:52.589 --> 00:22:54.190 have a day off when we're missing don't think 00:22:54.190 --> 00:22:57.769 we don't come to respite so it is so important 00:22:57.769 --> 00:23:00.890 i just don't think it's a it's a thing yet i 00:23:00.890 --> 00:23:04.269 think slowly within mainstream especially with 00:23:04.269 --> 00:23:05.910 the children with additional needs it's going 00:23:05.910 --> 00:23:08.750 to become more needed and we're totally here 00:23:08.750 --> 00:23:11.650 for it like totally for it Yeah, you're not, 00:23:11.670 --> 00:23:14.150 you wouldn't feel burnout or exhaustion if you 00:23:14.150 --> 00:23:15.509 didn't love the children and were doing your 00:23:15.509 --> 00:23:18.049 best for them. It would be a really easy job 00:23:18.049 --> 00:23:19.890 to just put YouTube, I say this often actually, 00:23:19.990 --> 00:23:21.890 it would be a really easy job to just put Cocomelon 00:23:21.890 --> 00:23:24.150 on YouTube and give them a load of features and 00:23:24.150 --> 00:23:25.710 let them do their own thing and let them have 00:23:25.710 --> 00:23:27.950 their own way and let them, you know, all of 00:23:27.950 --> 00:23:31.269 that kind of thing. And that would be really 00:23:31.269 --> 00:23:33.390 easy, but it wouldn't be the loving thing to 00:23:33.390 --> 00:23:36.539 do. You know, it's because you love... No, exactly. 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.440 It's because you care for them, love them, want 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:40.460 the best for them, that you're getting burnt 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:44.059 out because you're trying to do so much, which 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:46.400 is awesome. But yeah, then you do need to rest. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.759 Who's paying for this service? Is it the schools 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:52.079 and the parents? Yeah, so that's another wall 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:54.809 we've come. to at times because obviously the 00:23:54.809 --> 00:23:57.490 funding the grants it's all such a battle to 00:23:57.490 --> 00:23:59.329 get which we absolutely are on that battle we 00:23:59.329 --> 00:24:01.529 will we will get there but the parents and families 00:24:01.529 --> 00:24:03.849 pay for the respite with us because it's a private 00:24:03.849 --> 00:24:07.190 company at the moment i do have a cic company 00:24:07.190 --> 00:24:09.109 that runs along so that's why we're going through 00:24:09.109 --> 00:24:11.069 all the bids and grants and things through that 00:24:11.069 --> 00:24:13.650 but again it's just it's just a journey and then 00:24:13.650 --> 00:24:16.200 the schools themselves pay for us to go into 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:19.220 the schools so some schools have very little 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:22.059 budgeting for the children for EHCPs and things 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:24.759 whereas some schools have more which is so much 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:27.259 more beneficial to them but yeah that it's something 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:29.599 sometimes it just doesn't feel quite right does 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.559 it no with the families and that's something 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:34.220 I think it does upset us at times is them paying 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.880 for it I really do struggle with that because 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:38.180 it's a passion and a love but it's our livelihood 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:41.109 so you kind of go this is our this is our respite 00:24:41.109 --> 00:24:43.269 center and then it just sometimes doesn't sit 00:24:43.269 --> 00:24:46.109 right with families paying any any child pays 00:24:46.109 --> 00:24:50.069 for clubs yeah right yeah um and there is that 00:24:50.069 --> 00:24:52.710 understanding i mean i never minded as a foster 00:24:52.710 --> 00:24:55.329 carer i was on the understanding he needed a 00:24:55.329 --> 00:24:58.049 one -to -one support That comes at a cost. It 00:24:58.049 --> 00:25:00.769 was a reduced cost. Maybe that's where you look 00:25:00.769 --> 00:25:03.250 at. But ultimately, I was just happy that it 00:25:03.250 --> 00:25:06.950 existed and I wanted to support it. So it continued. 00:25:07.470 --> 00:25:10.470 But yeah, is that the dream? What is the dream 00:25:10.470 --> 00:25:15.049 for our space? If you had, you know, ability 00:25:15.049 --> 00:25:18.930 and no barriers as far as, yeah, what would funding 00:25:18.930 --> 00:25:20.750 look like? What would your resource base and 00:25:20.750 --> 00:25:23.420 setting look like? What would you offer? What's 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:26.000 the dream? So we went to like a horror house 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.559 the other day. When I say horror house, so basically 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:30.700 the school we're working at, they have a caretaker's 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:32.259 house and it's been there for years and it's 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:35.119 derelict. And he is desperate to get it up and 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:37.119 running for the community and he came to us. 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.940 He said, just go and have a look round, go and 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:40.839 have a look round. It was the scariest event 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:44.500 I've ever been part of. It was derelict. The 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:47.240 dream is to, it was a massive four bed house, 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:50.140 wasn't it? And to turn that into a respite centre. 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:53.990 But we really want a... present preschool yeah 00:25:53.990 --> 00:25:57.069 and to because the children are within nurseries 00:25:57.069 --> 00:25:58.730 and things and preschools that have got sending. 00:25:58.809 --> 00:26:01.069 Obviously, they've not got the EHCPs just yet. 00:26:01.109 --> 00:26:03.230 They're not on that journey yet. But to recognise 00:26:03.230 --> 00:26:06.269 that and have them at our space classroom would 00:26:06.269 --> 00:26:10.289 be an absolute dream. And also, we're going down 00:26:10.289 --> 00:26:12.569 to London in the next couple of weeks to St. 00:26:12.589 --> 00:26:14.730 Almond Street to work with some of the children 00:26:14.730 --> 00:26:17.869 within there who have got some serious illnesses 00:26:17.869 --> 00:26:19.430 and they're not in school and they're in things 00:26:19.430 --> 00:26:21.210 to go and work with some of them children. So 00:26:21.210 --> 00:26:24.150 not just necessarily respite for children with 00:26:24.150 --> 00:26:26.200 additional needs. but actually needs that out 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:30.119 of their hands and things. I went to Yorkshire 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.880 Cancer Research yesterday. I do a lot of charity 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:34.759 things for there. And I mentioned to the lady 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:38.740 there, these families need some respite for their 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.380 children when they're going through chemo and 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:42.500 things like that. So it's not just additional 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:45.240 needs and send needs. It is needs in general. 00:26:45.710 --> 00:26:47.990 yeah that child has these needs and they need 00:26:47.990 --> 00:26:51.410 us so the dream is to cover as much as we physically 00:26:51.410 --> 00:26:53.990 can but i think that is that the pipe dream is 00:26:53.990 --> 00:26:56.470 a big and massive respite center oh yeah that 00:26:56.470 --> 00:26:58.690 we've got preschool and the daytime evenings 00:26:58.690 --> 00:27:01.150 a lovely little small team because we've got 00:27:01.150 --> 00:27:03.329 two other ladies that work with us who are absolutely 00:27:03.329 --> 00:27:05.549 amazing we don't want anything too big because 00:27:05.549 --> 00:27:07.069 you just want to know they're all providing the 00:27:07.069 --> 00:27:09.170 same care as you but yeah that's that is the 00:27:09.170 --> 00:27:11.940 dream And I honestly think it's, I do think it's 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:15.220 massively doable. It's very realistic. It's fun. 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:18.180 Yeah, absolutely. And there are people out there 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:20.339 doing it, but not in every area. And that's what 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:22.359 we need as well, isn't it? We need this widespread 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:25.779 so that this, these offers are accessible for. 00:27:27.189 --> 00:27:29.289 everyone yeah it's a different business isn't 00:27:29.289 --> 00:27:31.269 it you're not I own I own a dance school so my 00:27:31.269 --> 00:27:32.930 background is I was I was trained as a dancer 00:27:32.930 --> 00:27:35.049 which is such a random journey to come on to 00:27:35.049 --> 00:27:38.430 but it's competitive whereas this isn't you want 00:27:38.430 --> 00:27:40.910 people popping up and you want to support each 00:27:40.910 --> 00:27:42.630 other and you want to say like oh you're doing 00:27:42.630 --> 00:27:44.089 that and I'm doing that and we'll we'll work 00:27:44.089 --> 00:27:46.589 together we had some ladies from were they from 00:27:46.589 --> 00:27:48.509 sorry have I just made that up no I think the 00:27:48.509 --> 00:27:50.950 way yeah and social media social media just messaged 00:27:50.950 --> 00:27:53.970 and said can we have get on a zoom like just 00:27:53.970 --> 00:27:56.609 to help each other the ideas and no it's not 00:27:56.609 --> 00:27:58.730 a competitive industry it is you're doing it 00:27:58.730 --> 00:28:00.950 because you love it we all want more like yeah 00:28:00.950 --> 00:28:02.750 we'll all be better off if there's just more 00:28:02.750 --> 00:28:05.529 of this stuff absolutely that's why I share so 00:28:05.529 --> 00:28:07.730 openly as well actually yeah it is there's no 00:28:07.730 --> 00:28:10.269 competition like please let's do more of this 00:28:10.269 --> 00:28:13.150 yeah You all need each other's help constantly. 00:28:13.349 --> 00:28:15.670 You learn from each other. It's a job that you 00:28:15.670 --> 00:28:19.029 learn every single day. Respite, the word respite 00:28:19.029 --> 00:28:22.130 is just huge. I can't say the word respite enough 00:28:22.130 --> 00:28:24.609 to people. You need respite. I say it to everyone 00:28:24.609 --> 00:28:27.609 all the time. There's a lot of guilt there. You 00:28:27.609 --> 00:28:29.390 said that yesterday. One of the challenges for 00:28:29.390 --> 00:28:31.930 parents is that pure guilt of dropping them off 00:28:31.930 --> 00:28:34.789 and not someone else looking after their children. 00:28:35.109 --> 00:28:36.950 Actually, exactly what you just said as well. 00:28:37.250 --> 00:28:39.589 My little girl would go to a club for a day. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:43.160 wanted to i wanted to have experience and and 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:45.240 she's been up all night i need some rest you 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:48.259 know so i always say that to everyone i compare 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:51.200 myself to me and my little girlies you know i 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:54.279 need this so you need this so let's let's work 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:56.180 together and do it yeah this isn't a failure 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:59.900 in you not coping this is just parenting child 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:03.119 child wants an activity center to be with friends 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:06.369 to have fun and the benefit Almost like the caveat 00:29:06.369 --> 00:29:08.529 of that is, oh, you also get some time. Yeah, 00:29:08.549 --> 00:29:11.730 and it has that bonus in it. So we had a child 00:29:11.730 --> 00:29:15.369 that went into quite a bad crisis at one of our 00:29:15.369 --> 00:29:20.150 last camps and her mum afterwards was like, right, 00:29:20.250 --> 00:29:21.750 if you don't want to come back, it's totally, 00:29:21.769 --> 00:29:24.009 we were like, absolutely, that is not an option. 00:29:24.109 --> 00:29:25.329 You're going to bring her, you're going to take 00:29:25.329 --> 00:29:27.970 her home because she needs to regulate herself 00:29:27.970 --> 00:29:29.410 and you're going to bring her back this afternoon. 00:29:29.450 --> 00:29:31.150 We're going to have restorative with the children, 00:29:31.289 --> 00:29:34.059 with your child, with us. because that for her 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:36.359 mental health would not be good at all to walk 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:38.640 away from that and never come back to it that's 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:41.599 not what we're about at all is it so we do this 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:44.180 job for those reasons and you still need that 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.920 respite so you're bringing it back this afternoon 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.680 we'll do the restorative we'll do all of that 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.359 and but the fact that she thought that was an 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:51.559 option like yeah because that's what that would 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:54.059 have been her experiences up until now yeah yeah 00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:58.839 but you have one blip one crisis moment and that's 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:01.779 the door shy so i've seen it I've seen it firsthand 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:05.539 that it's like a fear, a fear of safety, red 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:08.519 tape, insurance. And actually sometimes you just 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:10.140 need restorative care. Sometimes you just need 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:12.819 time, a little bit of a break, and then you can 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:14.440 go back in it again. And it's really lovely that 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:17.200 you're proving that works. Oh yeah, she's still 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.339 with us. She's still, she's the funniest. She 00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:21.779 loves it. It's just, she struggles, don't you? 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:25.079 She struggles. It's not personal. We've had to 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:27.440 adapt. We've had to change. Yeah. you know it's 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:29.519 not for her to adapt and change she'll she's 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:31.960 on a journey to learn and and find different 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:34.079 strategies and things but that's our job you 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:36.220 know to kind of go oh that's she don't work with 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:38.180 that's me to do that it's not our job to close 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:41.019 the door on her family and say this is for you 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:43.759 to deal with now it's absolutely a whole family 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:47.000 and our space thing it's a circle i do i think 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.779 i use that word all the time we're a circle we're 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:52.609 respite we support the families we now want to 00:30:52.609 --> 00:30:54.210 go in and support that student in the school 00:30:54.210 --> 00:30:57.029 so it's a full circle that we're wanting to do 00:30:57.029 --> 00:30:59.430 not just a section of it and then everyone else 00:30:59.430 --> 00:31:01.549 deals with everything else let's let's all do 00:31:01.549 --> 00:31:05.210 the full circle let's try holistic yeah yeah 00:31:05.210 --> 00:31:07.549 i love that i really love that but for people 00:31:07.549 --> 00:31:09.210 listening to this i've got lots of parents and 00:31:09.210 --> 00:31:11.029 teachers that might be in your local area so 00:31:11.029 --> 00:31:13.630 where can they find out more about maybe they 00:31:13.630 --> 00:31:14.690 want to set up their own thing and they need 00:31:14.690 --> 00:31:16.390 support from you or maybe they're local to you 00:31:16.390 --> 00:31:18.710 and they want to access your your settings and 00:31:18.710 --> 00:31:21.940 what where can they find you So we're based in 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:24.920 Bradford in the Whibsey area at Oddsall. We're 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.819 obviously on social media. We've got us on TikTok. 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:30.119 That's where most of our families have been contacting 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:33.420 us. A lot of people contacting us to learn what 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:35.059 we do because they want to do it. So we said 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:36.700 we were going to do maybe a Zoom call, won't 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:39.019 we? Just have a chat how we got it started. We're 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:41.460 going to organise some more family catch -ups 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:43.880 and things like that. We've been in contact with 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:46.839 someone in Bradford. Centre Lime. Centre Lime, 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.460 yeah. So they do something similar, but they 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:51.180 take the families out with the children. So we 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.819 were going to get involved with them and speak 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:55.299 to more parents and things like that. Great. 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:57.740 Quite a few people knew us, didn't they, from 00:31:57.740 --> 00:32:03.619 there? Yeah, yeah. So we're not aiming for Bradford 00:32:03.619 --> 00:32:06.119 and Whibsey area. If you are in West Yorkshire 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:08.559 and you want to drive and travel, we want as 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:10.799 many families that we can support is the aim. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:13.460 We have even said we would go. and travel to 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.960 then to give them that respite if they were you 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:17.740 know far away they really needed it so that's 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:19.779 definitely social media is where you would find 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:21.880 us i think that's where you find everyone these 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:25.019 days and what contacts us what's your instagram 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:28.720 handle just our space respite isn't it yeah our 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:31.140 space respite everywhere amazing thank you so 00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:34.839 much both for joining and yeah enlightening and 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:37.859 reminding everybody the importance of respite 00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:42.150 for us for them in school out of school all so 00:32:42.150 --> 00:32:44.309 important and i really hope that whether they're 00:32:44.309 --> 00:32:45.650 either if they're close to you they reach out 00:32:45.650 --> 00:32:48.049 to you for sure and if you're not close to the 00:32:48.049 --> 00:32:50.490 west yorkshire area then maybe there might be 00:32:50.490 --> 00:32:53.670 an offer locally to you so maybe ask other parents 00:32:53.670 --> 00:32:55.329 that you know or the school that you know they 00:32:55.329 --> 00:32:58.230 might know or have a little google search and 00:32:58.230 --> 00:33:00.529 see if there's a respite center near that you 00:33:00.529 --> 00:33:03.690 that you could access let's get our respite out 00:33:03.690 --> 00:33:06.289 there definitely definitely thank you so much 00:33:06.289 --> 00:33:11.319 bye well thank you thank you bye Thank you.