Whilst on site in March 2020, Rosalind taught both 1st and 2nd year students many times and helped them design and make an item each.

1st years were set the challenge of making a felt needle case. They learnt several hand embroidery stitches and then set about designing how to use them to decorate the outside. It can be a struggle to get them to think creatively when for most of their lives they have had to follow by rote but it was lovely to see their development and smiles as they came up with their very own ideas. 2nd years made a lined draw-string bag with a pocket inside. They added a channel for the cord and I took lovely coloured toggles out with me, an extra special treat, which they had great fun working out how to use. We take things like this for granted but watching them look intently at the spring and the need to depress the top so that they could pull the cord through was quite humbling and their smiles gave me much joy too. The funds needed for these projects was kindly given by the craft group of All Saints Church, Sidmouth in Devon. We are very grateful to them for their support, the students were so excited to be able to take their finished items home to show to their families, for many receiving a gift is highly unusual.

The attached photographs show what our students were working on during March before the school had to temporarily close on Government instructions.