RCG's SEND-Friendly Holiday Club: A Case Study

For families of SEND children, school holidays can bring a difficult dilemma: finding childcare and activities that feel safe, inclusive and supportive at the same time. After attending one of RCG's holiday clubs, one parent described their child Alice's experience as 'the best week of her life.' Read on to find out more about Alice's story... A Place That Felt Safe From the Start

Alice had previously struggled with mainstream holiday clubs. Her parent explained that attending other provisions required 'a lot of scaffolding' and emotional preparation, which often left Alice overwhelmed and unhappy. Redcatch Community Garden felt different from the start.

'There's a combination of indoor and outdoor, which is good and works well. Because the SEND criteria is not rigid, it feels very inclusive. There's no jumping through hoops to access the provision. It's all very welcoming and easy as a parent.'

Alice had initially said she didn't want to go during the holidays, but something changed once she arrived. 'The first day was difficult, but once she was in, it was fine. She was immediately engaged in an activity and I felt that she was very safe because she was busy straight away.' Her parent also noticed how well the sessions were run. 'You could see that everyone had great ratios and all needs were being met for all the individuals attending.' 'Alice said it was the best week of her life and she couldn't wait to get back to it the next day.' When asked why, Alice put it simply: 'You can just be yourself. You can be silly and run around. I can't wait for tomorrow.' For children who often spend their lives masking or trying to fit into environments not designed for them, being able to fully relax and feel accepted can make a real difference.

Alice's parent put it beautifully: 'She has experienced psychological safety. It's allowed her to be silly, allowed her to bring her whole self and she was met with warm humour.' A Different Approach to SEND Inclusion What impressed her parent most was the attitude of the staff team. 'The people running the sessions talk to the kids like humans.' Rather than focusing on labels or diagnoses, staff took the time to understand each child as an individual. 'They discover the idiosyncrasies of each of the individual children beforehand and instead of saying, 'Do they have SEND?', they say, 'What helps them?'' 'The people are really curious about the child and really invested in the children enjoying it.' Small, thoughtful adjustments made a big difference too. 'Even things like sourcing the food that the child likes and going that extra mile is really special and it makes the child feel seen. The flexibility to make the small adjustments makes the child feel valued.' Building Confidence Beyond the Holiday Club The impact of the week went well beyond the sessions themselves. Alice's parent noticed growing confidence in everyday life. 'The week has given her confidence to try new things, including asking for things in a shop, which she's never done before.' She also seemed more willing to try unfamiliar environments. 'She skipped off to another provision without a second thought. It's that gentle drip, drip of confidence building that people will try and meet needs.' For her parent, this confidence came from repeated experiences of acceptance, not pressure. 'It's so exhausting to fit in with someone else's agenda for them. She was mentally energised after coming here.'

Including the Whole Family Alice's parent also began to imagine possibilities for Alice's brother, who would typically avoid holiday provision altogether. 'For my other child, it feels within reach. He would also never attend and I feel that here it would be possible.' That sense of possibility matters for families who are often left out of mainstream activities and community spaces. Why This Matters At its core, the success of Redcatch Community Garden's SEND-friendly holiday club comes down to something simple: children thrive when they feel safe, accepted and understood. By creating a flexible, responsive space, our education team is helping build confidence and reduce isolation for children and families alike. For Alice, it meant finding a place where she could just be herself. Want to try it for yourself? We are taking bookings for our Summer 2026 Holiday Club now! Our clubs include cooking, crafts and games for children aged 8-16 who receive benefits-related free school meals or who have special educational needs. 9:30am-1pm on the following dates: Mon 27th July Tues 28th July Weds 29th July Thurs 30th July Mon 3rd August Tues 4th August Thurs 6th August Fri 7th August Click here to book your free ticket(s)! We look forward to seeing you at the Garden soon 💚

Note from an attendee!