St Mary's pupils learn life skills byopening and managing a new shop

The students have stocked the shop with goods such as pasta, rice, pasta sauce, breakfast cereal, long life milk, lots of tinned goods, and some toys as part of their independent living skills lessons.

The shop has been open for the last two weeks to staff and pupils on Monday’s from 3pm – 4pm to come and buy the goods.

There is a suggestion book as well so as staff can write in what else they would like to see on sale in the shop.

An extra bonus is that the students are not charging 5p for a carrier bag.

The opening was well attended by staff and they thought the range of goods on sale was excellent and the customer service provided by the students was second to none.

Sebastian Hilder an Occupational Therapist at St Mary’s said the running of the shop helps the students learn skills they can transfer into life outside of the school such as money handling and cash recognition.

He said: “They will also learn to identify which stock is popular and use their independent travel sessions to go and replenish the shelves.”

St Mary’s was founded in 1922 as a special school for disabled children by medical professionals who wanted to provide the best possible start for young people who then had few opportunities to access education with support.

It is run by the Talking Trust.

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