62 pupils from 5 schools attended the Multi-School Council inclusive walk event in Hadleigh Park.
The Multi-School Council was set up 8 years ago by Kierran Pearce, a former SEN teacher. The council was initiated by the children to break down perceptions around special needs and mental health difficulties. It provides young people an opportunity to improve their confidence and develop personal and social skills alongside promoting values like democracy and tolerance.
Last year Kierran organised a walk to every special school in Essex to raise awareness of the council and special educational need schools. The students wanted to play their part in this and came up with the idea of a charity walk at Hadleigh park that could be attended by other students from different schools involved in the Multi-Schools Council.
Kierran Pearce said: “The Multi-Schools Council wanted to change perceptions by hosting child led events that integrate both special schools and mainstream schools. By building these links and connections, children become educated about the differences we all have, rather than it becoming the topic in the room that nobody wants to talk about.”
