Learning Breaks - SEAL
In 2019 we introduced SEAL, our Social & Emotional Active Learning breaks.
These breaks combine the fun, playful elements of a Honeypot respite break with activities designed to ensure that children achieve individual social and emotional development goals. These are defined in partnership with their school and every child’s break culminates with a graduation ceremony at which they receive a certificate celebrating their particular achievements.
The Honeypot Children’s Charity has been recognised by Hampshire County Council as a ‘Registered Activity Provider’ and ‘Learning Outside the Classroom’.
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom has awarded both Honeypot Houses with the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge. This is the only national accreditation that recognises both learning and safety for all types of learning outside the classroom providers and is endorsed by the Department of Education.
Research shows that on average, young carers score 9 GCSE Grades lower than the national average, due to their ongoing caring commitments.
Our SEAL programme lets them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed in school, and later in life.
The programme
The Honeypot SEAL programme seeks to enable children’s social and emotional development through a range of activities that build confidence, increase self-esteem and encourage personal growth through reflection, collaboration and communication. Our programme equips children to recognise their own skill set, in turn fostering a sense of pride and achievement.
The programme is designed to support and augment SEAL, PSHE and pastoral provision in schools and to work in partnership with teachers and school staff to facilitate increased engagement across the curriculum and improved academic performance, so creating lifelong learners.
The residential component is intended to have a profound effect on children’s wellbeing. During a break our dedicated team provide a level of care, nurture and tailored individual support which enables memorable learning experiences.
Impact
The programme employs the Stirling Children’s Wellbeing Scale alongside other qualitative and quantitative tools to measure our success in meeting programme aims and objectives.
What a typical break looks like
Our minibus collects twelve children from their school on a Monday morning and takes them to Honeypot House in the New Forest. They are greeted by our SEAL team; our aim is for each group of children to work with the same consistent team of four skilled adults throughout their SEAL journey.
Having already established relationships with the Honeypot team and each other during pre-residential in-school sessions, children embark upon a bespoke programme of around 30 hours of tasks and challenges throughout their four-day residential. Our site has a wealth of scientific and environmental learning opportunities for the children which are incorporated in activities such as habitat exploration, understanding food chains and even building their own hedgehog houses!
Other tasks and challenges enable the children to explore PHSE/citizenship topics including being an active global citizen, respect, rights and responsibilities, diversity, identity and wellbeing. Many of the tasks are designed to be hands-on and creative, such as designing, developing, producing and presenting their own creations such as board games and worry monsters. All tasks seek to develop teamwork and social skills, completing a range of challenges and problem-solving tasks, helping children recognise, understand and celebrate their capabilities.
During scheduled break/exercise times children focus on their physical health and wellbeing, exploring healthy routines and enjoying a range of activities and sports including go-karts, trampolining, cycling, basketball and football.
Every evening children take time to reflect, updating their Honeypot journal with skills they’ve developed, challenges they’ve overcome and achievements they’ve celebrated.
What schools say
Thank you again so much for the trip. It was an amazing experience for them and they can’t stop talking about it! You and the Honeypot team are amazing and make such a difference to children’s lives.
Carla Pilgrim, Parent Support Worker, Heathlands Academy Primary School
Thank you so much for all you did. The children cannot stop talking about their experiences with you.
Liz Allen, Deputy Headteacher. Bitterne CE Primary School
I just wanted to send you a quick email passing on our thanks on behalf of the children for last week’s SEAL break! The children returned to us full of stories and happy memories. It was lovely to see the bonds they had created with children they did not previously know. (Child’s name) in particular presented as a completely different child, approaching me for a hug and initiating conversation which is very unlike her usual quiet self... she has really grown in confidence in such a short time! Honeypot continues to be one of our favourite charities and we look forward to working with you again in the future.
