Having fun

Being young is about discovering new things, enjoying the outdoors, pursuing hobbies and interests, developing a sense of adventure and gaining self-confidence. It’s about making friends and having fun.

Our Youth Support team run a range of after school clubs and activities, as well as helping children to access clubs and other leisure activities in the local community. From physical activities such as sailing and bike riding through to more creative pursuits like arts and crafts, cooking and much more besides, we aim to ensure that life at Cotswold Chine School is full of adventure and fun.

Each house has two youth support workers as part of the house team. They get to know each child and what activities they enjoy doing so that they can create bespoke individual and group activity plans.  The activities are designed not only to be fun but also to support each child’s therapy plans and goals.

Physical activities

The school’s location means that it is ideally suited for a wide variety of healthy outdoor pursuits: everything from bike riding, fishing, horse riding and dog walking to snowboarding at the local dry ski slope. When the weather’s not so good, there are also plenty of indoor leisure activities available including swimming, ice-skating and skateboarding at the Rush Skate Park.

Outdoor activities

  • Bike riding
  • Sports
  • Dog walking
  • Tennis
  • Horse riding
  • Fishing
  • Rock climbing
  • Kayaking
  • Tubing
  • Sailing
  • Paddleboarding
  • Snowboarding
  • Mindfulness walks

Indoor activities

  • Swim fitness
  • Diving
  • Ice-skating
  • Yoga
  • Spinning
  • Skateboarding
  • Visiting the local leisure centre and working out at the gym

For those who enjoy more creative pursuits, there are plenty of opportunities ranging from arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, sewing bee and music jamming sessions.

The youth support team also run a variety of after school clubs catering for a range of interests including running club, football, basketball, volleyball, disco-size, sewing club, play club and drama club.

Once a fortnight, all residential students are invited to a youth club which takes place in the Halfway Café.  This provides them with a safe environment in which to socialise with their friends and engage in various fun activities throughout the evening including a silent disco, crafts, video games corner, tuck shop and themed seasonal celebrations.

Where assessed as safe and appropriate, young people are encouraged to participate in clubs and activities in the local community including Explorer Scouts, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Cadets, table tennis, football, gymnastics, music band and dance clubs.  Not only does this help to develop confidence, independence and social skills but it also provides an opportunity to meet and make friends with other young people in the local community.

Outside of term-time, our residential students on 52-week placements get the opportunity to go on some fantastic holidays, both in the UK and abroad.  Whether it’s camping in Wales, a beach holiday in Cornwall, snowboarding or mountain biking in the Alps, our staff go the extra mile to ensure that every holiday is full of adventure and fun.