Community Engagement

At Doubletrees School, we believe that learning extends far beyond the classroom. As part of our commitment to every learner, we provide a structured Community Access Offer each term. This ensures that all pupils have meaningful opportunities to engage with their wide community. Our community access offer increases as learners progress through the school, as we support to prepare our learners for life beyond Doubletrees. Offsite activities and trips require careful planning and risk assessing and we appreciate the support of family members and wider support networks to help us to ensure we are able to deliver this offer to all of our children and young people.

Community access and enrichment opportunities support our learners in the following way:

Rationale:	Lower and Middle School	Upper School
Discovery	Expand access to inquiry-driven, hands-on learning experiences. Empower students and community members to engage in discovery across STEM, arts, and humanities. Bridge gaps between formal education and community knowledge Promote equity and inclusion. Ensure learners have opportunities to access advanced learning and enrichment. Balance inclusion with challenge, so students can thrive academically and socially. Strengthen community links to broaden discovery pathways beyond the school.	Continue to build on lower and middle school outcomes, with further focus on functional independence, citizenship, functional English and Maths, social communication, and work-related learning.
Exploration	Therapeutic exploration within the wider community provides essential sensory stimulation, emotional regulation, life experiences and opportunities for curiosity-driven learning and developing vital life skills. Engage in sensory exploration experiences that supports cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Access calming and therapeutic environments that promote well-being, self-regulation and co-regulation. Develop confidence and independence skills through supported participation. Strengthen connections with nature and community spaces to foster a sense of belonging and security, building relationships with wider community. Prepare for life beyond Doubletrees School by experiencing inclusive, accessible environments that nurture resilience and adaptability.	Continue to build on lower and middle school outcomes, with further emphasis on functional communication, sensory regulation, supported independence, and community participation.
Engagement	Meaningful engagement with the wider community provides essential sensory stimulation, social interaction, and real world experiences. Develop communication and interaction skills in authentic contexts. Experience multi sensory environments that support cognitive and emotional growth. Build confidence and independence through supported participation. Strengthen their sense of belonging by connecting with local people, places, and traditions. Prepare themselves more effectively for life after Doubletrees School.	Continue to build on lower and middle school outcomes, prioritising sensory-rich experiences, communication of preferences, social inclusion, and therapeutic access.

Whole School Offer

EYFS

An onsite parent engagement opportunity each half term. This may include workshops, showcases of pupil learning, or collaborative activities designed to strengthen the home–school partnership.

Community Engagement Event: Every term, learners will participate in an external trip within the local community. These events are designed to connect pupils with local organisations, services and cultural opportunities.

Lower School

An onsite parent engagement opportunity each term. This may include workshops, showcases of pupil learning, or collaborative activities designed to strengthen the home–school partnership.

Educational Visit: Each learner will take part in at least one offsite visit per term. Visits are carefully planned to be accessible and enriching experiences that link directly to curriculum topics. (See table below for suggested experiences linked to termly topic)

Community Engagement Event (Off/Onsite) Every term, learners will participate in at least one external trip or an onsite community engagement event. These events are designed to connect pupils with local organisations, services, and cultural opportunities.

Middle School

An onsite whole school engagement opportunity each term eg an event such as a disco or a coffee morning which the learners have been involved in planning.

An onsite parent engagement opportunity each term. This may include workshops, showcases of pupil learning, or collaborative activities designed to strengthen the home–school partnership.

Educational Visit: Each learner will take part in at least one offsite visit per term. Visits are carefully planned to be accessible and enriching experiences that link directly to curriculum topics. (See table below for suggested experiences linked to termly topic)

Community Engagement Event (Off/Onsite): Every term, learners will participate in at least two external trips or an onsite community engagement event. These events are designed to connect pupils with local organisations, services, and cultural opportunities.

Upper School

An onsite whole school engagement opportunity each term eg an event such as a disco or a coffee morning which the learners have been involved in planning.

An onsite parent engagement opportunity each term. This may include workshops, showcases of pupil learning, or collaborative activities designed to strengthen the home–school partnership.

Offsite Visit: Each learner will take part in at least one offsite visit per term. Visits are carefully planned to be accessible and enriching experiences that link directly to Preparation for Adulthood opportunities. This could be a visit to a local leisure facility, tourist attraction or establishment linked to the upper school curriculum or learner Preparaing for Adulthood Outcomes or PLGs.

Community Engagement Event (Off/Onsite) Every term, learners will participate in at least two external trips or an onsite community engagement events. These events are designed to connect pupils with local organisations, services, work related learning opportunities and activities linked to preparation for adulthood.

In addition to this, learners will have the opportunity to access musical, creative and expressive arts, sports and cultural events through external visitors into school.