Inclusive Fire Station Event for SEND Children: A Success in Greenwich

Last weekend, East Greenwich White Watch opened its doors for a very special event for Primary School children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the first of its kind in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

As the parent of a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Sub Officer Sean Oakley wanted to create an event that his 6 year old son, who is nonverbal and has ASD, would be able to enjoy, without the challenges of large crowds and loud noise at a typical Open Day.

The event was a huge success, with over 200 members of the SEND community able to attend.

There were several activities, such as a bouncy castle, sand pit, balance beam, and hose reels, which had been charged from the hydrant to keep the noise down.

A sensory room and messy play area were created, including playdough and painting stations, as well as 5 quiet rooms for visitors to use if they were required, giving families a designated calm space in challenging moments.

Sub Officer Sean said, "There are so many SEND children in our community that also struggle to attend these events, that go through the exact same thing that I do.

"The event gave these families the opportunity to visit the Fire Station knowing that the needs of their children had been considered. A huge thank you to all at East Greenwich White Watch for their hard work, and to our Senior Officers who supported us throughout the planning of this event.

"A special thank you must go out to the Education Team who were brilliant interacting with the children, teaching them about Fire Safety and handing out goodies for them to enjoy, and a final thank you to Station Officer Daniel Foster who allowed us to borrow equipment from the stock of resources at Croydon Fire Station."

Members of Greenwich Councils Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Services Team attended, providing information regarding several different subjects, such as Educational Health Care Plans, Disability Living Allowance and more.

A huge well done to Sean, East Greenwich White Watch and all who helped at the station, the Education Team, partner agencies and all who helped to make this such a successful and welcoming event.

We can't wait for the next one!

#SEND #inclusiveevents #firestation #communitysupport #specialneeds