Downs With Ups

I’ve just come home from a morning tea outing. I’m consumed with a mixture of emotions, ranging from pride to gratitude, sadness and happiness. How did this come about from a simple cup of tea and a muffin?

Well, this was a very special café. This is a place, created by the wonderful teaching aides and teachers at Poppet’s school, where the children who have special needs ‘work’. The school staff and parents (if they’re around), are the customers.

There are a number of children who have special needs at Poppet’s school, ranging from Autism to Poppet with Down syndrome. Each child has their own abilities, limitations and personalities and yet none of this was evident, as they were all completely focussed on providing the best experience for their customers.

Kids Café is a simple space outside the canteen. The café is open from 11.00 to 11.30, during recess on Tuesdays. The children arrive early to set up and then eagerly await their customers. They try very hard and go to great lengths to make the café work. There are tables with tablecloths and chairs. Silver spoons and sugar are placed on each table, together with a decoration and even a plastic cup with ‘Tips’ written on it.

As I entered the room, I could feel the excitement and pride of these young people. I was greeted at the door and promptly handed a menu as I sat down at one of the tables that was decorated with a bright red tablecloth with white polka dots.

Soon all the staff, who didn’t have the misfortune to be on yard duty arrived and the place became very busy. It’s an incredible experience to watch these young children, all with challenges, so capably take orders, prepare beverages and food, receive payments and clean up. Their aides gently guiding the children, occasionally reminding them of their work and making sure each child is safe.

Each child has a role to play and I understand these are rotated each week. From the child who greeted us at the door, to the child who makes the ‘pod’ coffees, each one is engaged and seems to understand the importance of their role within the team. They worked together exceptionally well. Any other café would be envious of the quality of the staff.

Poppet’s role today was to take orders and deliver them to her customers. Even though we had a hug when I arrived, she was off to work, busy managing her orders. Every time she walked behind me, she would gently touch my back, just to let me know she was there, reminding me how special this was.

Unfortunately, I unwittingly caused an awkward moment, when I mucked things up by asking Poppet if I could pay her. She was calculating how much I needed to pay, when I heard, “I’m taking the money,” from another child. Unknowingly, I had usurped his responsibilities. “Sorry,” I replied. And I was.

There are so many benefits of this weekly enterprise. Not only do the children learn valuable work skills, such as numeracy and occupational health and safety, but their self-esteem is bolstered considerably as they demonstrate how capable they are, receiving worthy praise from their customers.

It would be a great model for any other school that has children with special needs. Once again, I’m so grateful to the staff at Poppet’s school, who are not afraid to think outside the box when it comes to engaging their special children in learning. This ‘brave’ approach can only help foster development for these kids.

I can’t wait for Poppet to come home so that I can give her a huge hug and tell her again, how proud I am of her. I left her, the other children and their aides with a heartfelt ‘thank you’, as they were just settling in to enjoying well-earned hot chocolates for their own break.