Joe runs in the door at Kidscene every holiday

Joe Taylor, who is 7, has been attending Sight Scotland’s Kidscene Holiday Club since 2021… and he loves it!

Joe attends Braidburn School in Edinburgh, a school dedicated to providing an inclusive learning environment for learners with additional support needs. Joe has several coinciding visual impairments, all of which affect his eyes in different ways.

Joe’s Mum, Kirsty Taylor, was looking for a holiday club for Joe and found Kidscene by chance when searching on the internet.

She explains: “I was looking at options for Joe in the holidays and came across Kidscene by chance while searching on the internet. So, I contacted them asking if they could help, and then arranged a visit. I was blown away with all the facilities and how amazing the staff are, I knew pretty much straight away that Joe was going to love it!

“It was such a big decision, Joe was so young that we knew we had to find the right place where he would be happy, but also where he could develop his confidence and independence. Almost three years on, I think it is safe to say that we definitely made the right decision. I wouldn’t send Joe anywhere else now.

“Joe just loves Kidscene, and practically runs in the door every time we drop him off. He was obviously quite nervous to begin with, but the staff were so great with him that it didn’t take long for him to settle in. There is so much for him to do and enjoy every time he goes, he is just so happy when he is there which is just so lovely to see..

“Going to Kidscene has helped Joe in so many ways. It has helped him socially as he has made lots of friends. He is also a lot more independent and his confidence has really soared. I couldn’t recommend Kidscene enough, and have done to many of the parents from Joe’s school. It is just great, and I’m so delighted that we have found somewhere which suits Joe’s needs perfectly.”

Lisa Donoghue, Manager at Kidscene, comments: “When Joe started at Kidscene in the summer of 2021, he was very quiet and shy. The whole of Kidscene was a very new experience to him. Each time Joe comes he has a dedicated 1-2-1 worker with him, and it only took him a few sessions before Joe was happy and confident with staff. Joe was also quite shy around the other children at first, and would observe but was reluctant to take part without staff intervention. However, by the end of the first summer Joe was a different boy!

“As our pupils’ needs can be complex, we provide an environment in which all can participate, learn, explore and develop their skills. Investing in specialist equipment and providing a programme of interactive and stimulating activities ensures we provide a varied programme of stimulating experiences. Having access to this has improved Joe’s quality of life, in addition to improving learning, health and well-being. Joe is now happily playing with the other children taking part in games and playing in the soft play and sensory rooms. We even helped Joe experience his first sessions in a fully adapted hydrotherapy pool. Last year we had a trip out to visit the farm animals and Joe was teaching some of the children the signs and sounds for the various animals.

“Joe now comes into Kidscene with the brightest smile and full of stories for the staff about what he has been doing since he was last here and introducing staff to his new ‘Bobo,’ Joe’s new baby brother. Joe has developed great friendships with some of the other children who attend Kidscene, namely one little boy who also has a hearing impairment. Both boys have a fantastic time together and have certainly developed their own style of communication. Nothing can stop these boys from having fun with one another.”

Kidscene is run by Sight Scotland and is an after school and holiday club for both mainstream children and those with additional support needs. Kidscene particularly welcomes those with visual impairment