Letters: Many thanks from heritage house

Jul 13 2011 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

THERE will have been many occasions when you see the staff and pupils, in their purple sweatshirts, using the shops, cafes and facilities in Chesham.

The pupils at Heritage House School have severe learning difficulties; some have autism, other are visually impaired; all have the potential to learn new skills and contribute to the local community.

The curriculum at Heritage House School is known as the Skills for Life curriculum for good reason.

Our pupils need guidance and support to learn those skills that other children simply pick up by watching others.

Whether it's learning to cross the road safely, walk down the street behaving appropriately or ordering a drink in a cafe, the pupils at Heritage House School need to practise these activities over and over again.

The people of Chesham support us daily in our work and without this support our pupils would have to face additional barriers.

The staff working in Chesham's shops, cafes, The Elgiva, the library and the post office are all assisting in the education of our pupils.

Your patience and understanding of the needs of our pupils is important to us and helps us to do a better job. Thank you!

Sometimes our pupils may struggle to behave when they are out and about. The staff working with the pupils are highly skilled and well trained to manage these challenging situations but we are often humbled by members of the public who approach us and offer their help. Thank you!

We are well known in the streets and roads around the school as daily, whatever the weather, we walk with the pupils practising essential skills. Our daily walks provide well-needed opportunities for our young people with autism to modulate arousal levels, learn how to behave appropriately and understand why they need to stop at the kerb and look for moving cars.

We regularly see the same people walking their dogs or waiting for a bus and we always get a cheery 'hello'.

Offers to stroke the dogs are also used as a teaching opportunity! Thank you!

So, the staff and pupils at Heritage House School would like to extend a big thank you to the people who live and work in Chesham. We couldn't do it without you!

SUZANNE PENNINGTON Heritage House School

Via email