Brookfields School celebrates 15 years of taking part in MOVE Programme with 8km sponsored walk

A special educational needs school in Tilehurst is celebrating 15 years of taking part in a mobility skills programme by holding an 8km sponsored walk around the school’s cycle track.

Brookfields School has taken part in the MOVE Programme since 2007, which is designed to teach functional mobility skills – such as sitting, standing, walking and transferring – to anyone who has physical difficulties.

Alongside the sponsored walk on Tuesday, May 24, the school is also hosting a day of activities designed to celebrate and promote the MOVE programme throughout the local community.

Brookfields School MOVE coordinator Helen Thurgood said: “The MOVE Programme is such a positive approach to teaching functional mobility skills, building on what the child or young person 'can do'.

“Our MOVE Day will be an incredible opportunity to show everyone what our MOVE pupils have achieved and celebrate their successes with friends, family and visitors.”

The MOVE Programme is also celebrating its 25th year in the UK in 2022, with Brookfields’ upcoming event acting as a celebration of both milestones. Brookfields has held the status of being a MOVE Centre of Excellence for 11 years.

Brookfields’ MOVE day’s main event will be the sponsored walk, which will see students aiming to complete 25 laps of the school’s cycle track either walking independently, using their walkers or on adaptive tricycles, with all methods promoting dynamic movement, a key pillar of the MOVE programme.

The day’s theme is ‘MOVE to save the planet’, with many of the other activities being in line with the topical issue of climate change. These include making fancy dress costumes from recycled materials, planting a tree on the school site, a junk orchestra, a cake decorating competition and afternoon tea for all.