Last week, we were filled with pride watching our pupils embody the values at the heart of Cockwood Primary School. As part of our volunteering week – We Are Ivy, We Are Cockwood – we took a group of eight pupils to visit residents at Sefton Hall Nursing Home in Dawlish. It was a truly wonderful experience.
For our pupils, this visit offered a real opportunity to practise their oracy skills and initiate conversations with people they had never met before. We were amazed at the warmth and kindness the children demonstrated throughout the afternoon. They engaged genuinely with the residents, asking thoughtful questions about their lives and sharing interesting things about themselves. The staff at the home gave us incredibly positive feedback, and it was a privilege to spend that time with them.
The impact of this visit has been remarkable. One pupil commented that he hadn’t realised how interesting older people were – a simple but profound observation. Another shared that one of the residents told her that their visit had not only made her day, but made her month. These moments capture something really special about what our pupils are capable of.
What has been most encouraging is how the children have reflected on their experience. They have recognised that volunteering brings reciprocal benefits – that both parties are left with a boost in confidence and self-esteem. This is exactly what we hope to foster at Cockwood: a genuine understanding of helping in the community, without any thought of reward.
We are delighted to have built this connection with Sefton Hall and are already planning to visit again. We hope to go and sing to the residents one afternoon in July and again in December. We have no doubt these visits will continue to be meaningful for everyone involved.
