Visiting and Transport

What We Provide

Homeware

• Pillows • Single or double quilts • Single or double quilt covers and pillowcases (although students are welcome to bring their own bedding to make their room more personalised) • Single or double fitted sheets • Kylie sheets (mattress protector) if required • Towels - All bath towels are colour coded for each home to ensure these are not mixed up • Laundry tubs or laundry bags • Curtains

Laundry Service

Students each have a laundry bag and each day and these bags are collected at regular intervals every day from the individual homes around the College.

The clothes from one home are washed separately from another home, although we are unable to wash each student’s clothes separately from another student’s. They are then brought back to students’ rooms on the same day. Because we are unable to wash clothes separately, it is important that all items of clothing are labelled with the student’s name to ensure they can be returned promptly after washing (this also includes underwear). Unfortunately, we have discovered that laundry markers generally do not last through many washes which is why sewn in labels are preferable.

Furniture

The College will provide the following standard items of furniture in all bedrooms: • Single bed • A wardrobe • A chest of drawers • A bedside table (lockable if required) • A sink with hot and cold water • One or two chairs (if required)

The College will also provide more individualised furniture options if required. This may include items such as lockable TV cabinets, double beds, alternative seating, a desk/work area or blinds. These options will be discussed fully during a student’s transition meeting, prior to moving into the College. We encourage all of our students to individualise and personalise their bedrooms.

What You Need

Clothing

Dress at Beechwood College is relaxed and is much the same as any mainstream College so style is very much a personal preference. However, we would ask you to consider what fastenings garments have in relation to the individual’s skill in dressing as we encourage all students to be as independent as possible. Clothing should cover normal activities of education and recreation and be reasonably varied to cope with the vagaries of the UK weather. Each item, including underwear should be clearly labelled, preferably using the sewn in variety of label. If the student suffers any level of incontinence a larger quantity of underwear/ sleepwear than usual should be provided.

In addition, our students also participate in activities such as swimming, walking, and bike riding; so the following items are essential if they are to be involved in any of these activities: • Swimwear • Wellingtons and/or stout water resistant boots • Waterproofs and/or a good weather resistant coat

We do provide a number of coat hangers, if the individual is bringing a large quantity of clothing with them we would appreciate it if they could also bring additional coat hangers as well.

Money

Parents provide pocket money to students for snacks and small personal care items. Our office manager liaises with our finance team who set up and manage individual personal accounts for each student. Expenditure is audited and monitored. Pocket money can be provided in the form of a cheque or cash, or a BACS transfer can be arranged.

Toiletries and Items of Personal Care

The College does not provide toiletries or items of personal care (except those that are essential to meet personal hygiene needs such as incontinence pads, wet wipes, etc.). The expectation is that students will bring an initial quantity with them, after which they will be supported to access the community to purchase more. Parents/carers should provide sufficient funds to cover this cost.