Comfort in Outdoor Play at Vranch House School

Devon

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For the children at Vranch House School, who are facing significant complex physical needs or an end-of-life diagnosis, an outdoor play space brings immense joy. Each year, Vranch House receives 400 new referrals and supports 2,000 young outpatients across the county with profound learning difficulties or complex health conditions. The sensory garden provides a year-round, accessible area that stimulates young minds and encourages physical movement.

Four-year-old Carter, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, suspected autism, global developmental delay, hypotonia, and hypermobility, is one of the many children benefiting from this garden. Carter is non-mobile and non-verbal, but his mum, Stephanie, explains how much comfort he finds in outdoor play. “My son loves the garden and now spends a lot of time outside. It enriches his senses of sight, smell, sound, and touch.”

Wooden Spoon Devon granted £14,750 for the creation of the accessible outdoor area and sensory garden at Vranch House in Exeter. Stephanie shares the difference this garden has made for Carter: “Carter struggles to walk and needs a wheelchair, but since being at Vranch he has started using a walking aid and he loves being outside with his walker. He can communicate with his teachers and is always happy when exploring the garden.”

Stephanie continues, “This type of garden not only allows him to connect to nature but encourages him to become more aware of his surroundings. Being engaged in the garden has meant he can concentrate on his walking a lot more and start to move forward. We are very grateful for the beautiful outside space Vranch House has. Even more so that it’s now fully accessible.”

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