Cooking Skills
This is a very popular area of learning for our students under the guidance of our staff. We are developing an ongoing programme in this department, which involves: promoting independence, an understanding of dietary requirements, upholding a balanced diet, understanding the importance of healthy foods and learning how this will contribute to our overall health and wellbeing.
Our students also learn the importance of food hygiene and personal hygiene requirements in cooking, plus how to look after the kitchen and all of its equipment. Our kitchen is specifically for the use of our students in order to achieve and learn new skills every week in a safe environment.
Our staff and students work together trying exciting foods and ideas to keep our students engaged and always learning.
Main meals & baking
Our students also cook main meals to take home to their family to show off their brilliant work. We give our students the chance to try alternatives and healthier options and understand that healthy food does not have to be boring or flavourless!
We also get to make delicious cakes, tray bakes and biscuits as treats. The coffee mornings do really well with the public, friends, family and carers. This is a brilliant experience for the students to work with the public, use money skills, health & safety and food handling.
The money made from all the hard work goes towards buying new equipment and cookbooks for the kitchen, so our students are always learning and developing new skills and ideas. Our students get to make new and exciting cakes including apple crumble cake, Bakewell tarts, cupcakes, carrot cake. They also get the chance to decorate them using piping bags, which they have so much fun doing!
Life skills
Our students benefit hugely from their experiences in the kitchen. Not only do they get to try new foods, but they also learn important life skills such as preparing food, cooking food, cleaning away, hygiene, food storage, food shopping and what flavours go with what foods.
Working in this department is a fantastic opportunity for students to work well as a team and produce some delicious food to take home to their families. Our students really enjoy this department and are always learning, which is really important to us.
Book a visit and a free taster day
If you are interested in a place, you can book a visit to see the Centre and what we do. Visits are usually booked at 10.30 am or 1.30pm and you are welcome to come with or without the student. We will take you on a tour of the farm and show you our wonderful site.
After your visit you will receive an application pack to complete and the student can join us for a free Taster Day, to see the different the activities and get to know our staff so they feel comfortable there.
Once the placement has been agreed by Social Services and care managers, then the students can start attending.
