Ninestiles, an Academy learners sharpen social skills at Chance & Encounters

Ninestiles, an Academy, part of the Summit Learning Trust, is proud to announce an exciting new initiative for its learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Over the next six weeks, learners from the school will take part in a novel programme at Chance & Encounters, a board games café located in Digbeth, designed to enhance their problem-solving abilities and social skills.

With over 600 board games to choose from, the programme offers learners a fun and interactive way to develop key life skills. The games are designed to promote teamwork, critical thinking, and communication, which are vital in both academic and social settings. By participating in this hands-on, inclusive experience, learners will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and engage in problem-solving activities that help them grow both intellectually and socially.

The programme is tailored specifically for learners who attend the school’s resource base, where children with SEND benefit from an ambitious and inclusive curriculum. This approach reflects Ninestiles, an Academy’s commitment to providing all young people, regardless of their needs, with the support they require to thrive.

Ninestiles, an Academy is known for its inclusive approach, as highlighted in their recent Ofsted report. Inspectors praised the school for providing a well-designed curriculum that supports students with SEND and enables them to achieve their full potential. They noted that the school has high expectations of pupils’ achievement, which most pupils meet and that pupils, including those in the specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND, are increasingly well prepared for their next stage of education, employment, or training.

Alex Hughes, Headteacher at Ninestiles, an Academy said:

“We are always looking for innovative ways to support our learners and enhance their development. This board games programme at Chance & Encounters is a unique opportunity for our students to build problem-solving and social skills in a fun and engaging way. The programme not only supports academic learning but also helps our students develop the confidence and independence they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.”