County News

This is a brand new project.  The objective is to increase opportunities and access for students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties based at The Meadows Special School.  The Meadows Special School relocated to Leek and became part of the Staffordshire Moorlands School Leek Sports Cluster in September 2009.   The intention is to link the PMLD students into the Rudyard Sailability Centre (based at Rudyard Lake). 

The Access grant awarded has enabled the Meadows to hire specially adapted Taxi transportation to from Leek to Rudyard which can fully cater for the students individual requirements.

The first of eight scheduled sailing activity sessions took place on Tuesday 25^th May when 6 students and 4 staff ventured to the Sailability Centre at Rudyard Lake.

The students responded well adapting quickly to their new environment.  2 Wheelchairs bound students were placed onto the Sailability power boat, the 4 other students placed into the sailing dinghies where they received excellent one to one sailing instruction.

I feel this project will greatly enhance the learning/life experiences of the students.  The students are able to: see/feel/touch this initiative; allowing them to access new activities and be challenged at an appropriate level to their abilities/needs.

At the present time I am also developing the Sports Leaders UK ‘Young Leader Award’ at The Meadows and it is therefore anticipated that the Meadows Young Leaders will assist with this initiative also.

A great opportunity to take advantage of; made possible by the Access across Staffordshire Grant and with special thanks to Dennis Priebe of Rudyard Sailability for his help, advice and guidance in the setting up of this project.

S Sargeant SSCo

Staffordshire Moorlands