Most primary schools have a school trip, in year 5 or 6. It becomes legendary in the school and is a rite of passage.
Surely a school which caters for children with physical challenges would not be able to do this? These children need wheelchairs, fancy equipment, medication, help washing, changing and dressing, some are fed through tubes .Far safer to keep them at home on familiar territory doing something nice and gentle like painting, or Muti Sensory activities.
If you agree with the previous statement I have failed, in the last few days, to convey the ethos of Horton Lodge Special School. For this I apologize.
I give you…..Bendrigg.
As soon as they enter the school this children know about Bendrigg. The big ones go there, assemblies show abseiling, climbing,zip wires, caving.
As a newbie parent at the school, I was astonished.Pearl could never do that! Then I saw videos of some of the least physically able children in the school flying through the air on zip wires, squealing loudly and grinning widely.
And so, as it’s Saturday,and I need to take a small girl to her swimming lesson I’ll say no more, but treat you to some pictures of Action Pearl.
Oh just one more thing, if you donate to the school PFSA ,or have donated, this is one of the things the money will go towards.
The logistics,training and high staff to pupil ration could make Bendrigg prohibitively expensive.The centre itself is charitably funded, but costs to Horton children are kept low by the PFSAs tireless fundraising. If you would like to help some of Pearl’s friends fly through the air next year (and imagine this feeling if you spend most of your time in a wheelchair) please donate any amount, however small here.





This is part of a blog a day for Horton.

As a person who considers herself quite claustrophobic (I really would have panicked if I was one of those Thai kids) and v scared of heights, respect to Pearl. I am in awe and feel quite pathetic!! Xx
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The caves are my idea of terror too-however the whole family are going to Bendrigg in October so we’ll have to be brave or show ourselves up in front of Pearl!
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Ha ha! That won’t do 😂
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