SAFE WELL PROSPEROUS CONNECTED

The Great North Lincolnshire Rhyme Challenge

Intergenerational Project

Case Study

Bowmandale Primary, Beech House Residential Home,

Barton Community Hub and Family and Community

Learning

Summer 2019

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Rhyme Challenge Intergenerational Project

Information about the project was shared with all managers from

residential homes in North Lincolnshire. Staff from Beech House

Residential Home and Barton Hub were very enthusiastic to be involved

in the project. Bowmandale Primary were approached and were equally

enthusiastic to be involved. Meetings were organised to talk about the

project, visit the Hub and plan the sessions. Staff from the Hub and

home attended the Rhyme Challenge workshop to gain information and

inspiration. Staff from the Hub invited community groups to be involved

in the project. Sadly there was no take up from any community groups.

The staff at Bowmandale ensured all the children in foundation were

involved in the challenge by inviting grandparents to have the same

sessions in school when the other children were visiting the hub.

Rhyme Sessions

The challenge lasted for 6 weeks consisting of a weekly 45 minute

session at Barton Hub and finished with a celebration on Thursday 18th

July. Twenty-four 4-5 year olds, staff and parent helpers from

Bowmandale foundation took part in the challenge at the hub with

seven residents from Beech House. The children and residents were

spilt into two groups with staff from family community learning leading

the sessions. Residents joined the children at the rhyme table. The

weekly sessions were planned with 5 rhymes and songs to learn and

props to make to support the rhymes. Artefacts were provided by the

museum service which tied in with the nursery rhyme theme. These

were displayed at the beginning of each session as a point of

conversation for the adults and children.

Prototypes for the rhyme props were provided with a list of the resources needed. Barton Hub staff provided the resources to make the props. The residents and children worked together to learn the rhymes and

make the props. A Rhyme Challenge pack was provided for the

residents and school so they could use the resources to practice the

rhymes between each session. At the end of each session the children

and residents had a drink and snack together with time to chat and

interact.

The children who did not attend from Bowmandale foundation learnt

the songs and rhymes at school with their Grandparents ready for the

celebration event.

The Rhyme Challenge is part of Power of Words

s and stories, putting words at the heart of co Lincolnshire. Now in its second year.

POW. A celebration of

word mmunities across

North

Great Rhymers Make Great Readers

The rhyme challenge aims to support children and families to enjoy

learning rhymes and singing together. Materials and resources from the

BookTrust rhyme challenge packs are used for the challenge. This year

an exciting intergenerational project was developed by the Family and

Community Learning Team using research from ST Monica Trust

(Channel 4 Old Peoples Home for 4 Year Olds). The research shows the

benefits for the children and older generations on their wellbeing and

communication skills when they have the opportunity to work together

for a common purpose.

Fantastic experience,

the relationships with the

children and residents.

Resident said it reminds

her of when her children

were at school.

Residents looked

forward to it. Beech

House staff

Display in Barton Hub

promoting the challenge to

community groups.

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It has built very

good friendships.

Very rewarding.

Enjoy the crafts.

Resident

Celebration

The celebration took part on 18th July in the sports hall at

Baysgarth Leisure Centre. All the children from foundation at

Bowmandale attended with their parents, grandparents and the

residents from Beech House.

As part of the POW Above Bounds Theatre performed ‘A Tissue A

Tissue’. The Rhyme Challenge Intergenerational project was

shared with the audience and the children and residents performed

the songs they had learnt.

Considerations and Challenges

Regular contact over a sustained period of time to maximize the

benefits of the project for both residents and children.

Time to plan prepare and be ready for each week was vital to the

success. This preparation allowed for a calm welcoming well

organised session.

Time for the residents to settle at the rhyme table before the

children arrived and find out about the activities so they felt

prepared and not rushed was also vital. Mobility for some residents

was limited so being safely seated before the children arrived was

important.

Ensuring enough space around the table for the residents and

children to mingle, make props, sing and have refreshments.

Children, families and residents informed and encouraged to

nurture understanding of differences and build mutual respect.

Staff from The Beeches considered which residents would benefit

from working with the children and invited these residents to join in

with the challenge.

Moving to the sports hall for the final celebration event proved

daunting and disorientating for some of the residents. In the future

consider keeping the celebration in the same place as the

sessions.

Artefacts provided by the North

Lincolnshire museum included

a kettle and tea caddies, a

woollen knitted bathing

costume, children toys

including a spinning top, doll,

and cup and ball game. The

artefacts provoked memories

for the residents which they

shared with the staff and

children.

Look forward to it!

Told family about

it. Brilliant!

Resident.

The residents have

had a chance to

speak about their past

using the artefacts

e.g. talking about the

seaside they visited.

Staff

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Comments

Beech House really enjoyed the Rhyme Challenge and the

residents are still talking about the children. My residents

really engaged with this and I as a home manager felt very

lucky that we had this opportunity to engage and build

relationships with the children and the community. It was very

rewarding to see the residents and children engaging together

and building friendships and communicating together. I think

this is a very positive activity and would recommend it to all

other homes and schools.

Manager Beech House Residential Home

Comments

The project has been a wonderful experience for the children at

Bowmandale Primary School. We have visited Beech House for

the last two years but could only take 8 children each time, this

project has allowed us to take 25 children every week. This has

enabled the children and the residents to build lovely

friendships and it is heart warming to see how much they all

enjoy talking, singing and crafting each week. Our children have

grown in confidence, built upon their literacy and singing skills

and have really enjoyed themselves. We have thoroughly

enjoyed the project!

Head of Foundation Bowmandale Primary

Comments

This has been a wonderful opportunity for children and older

people from the same community to work and have fun

together. The interaction between the children and older

people has been wonderful to see, and it has been widely

evidenced that everyone involved in these kind of activities feel

a huge benefit.

Team Manager - Community Wellbeing

Super use of

puppets and

artefacts to bring

the rhymes to life.

Parent Helper

The rhyme challenge has

been a lovely project to

be part of. You can see

from faces, children and

adults the joy from

rhymes and working

together. Staff

Well-chosen craft

activities to match the

rhymes.

Grandparent Helper

I love being with

the children.

Resident

I enjoy making and

sticking and making

patterns. Resident

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Beech House resident is young friend's special guest at graduation

Today was a very special day for Betty, a resident at Beech House Care Home in Barton-upon-Humber.

In recent weeks Betty and other residents have been invited to a Rhyme Challenge with the local primary school, taking part in activities with the children and hearing their new nursery rhymes and teaching them the old ones.

Last week the home received a call from the school to say that one of the young participants had asked his mother if Betty could go to his graduation today at school. Betty was thrilled to be asked and attended the event, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

The home is now planning a party with the children and family and friends to celebrate the Rhyme Challenge.

Home Manager Alison Hudspeth-Lamb said:

"The project has been a really good experience and the residents and children have really enjoyed it, building lovely relationships and friendships.

"It was so nice to see Betty happy and engaged with the graduation - waving and blowing kisses to all the children. We're looking forward to our party and celebrating the coming together of two generations."

Date published: 16 July 2019 https://www.fshc.co.uk/our-news/life-in-our-care-

homes/beech-house-resident-is-young-friends-special-

guest-at-graduation/

It was lovely to see the

children and residents

interacting with one another,

and everyone smiling and

laughing. The children were

chattering and excited which

made the residents smile. An

excellent activity.

Staff

Really enjoyed it. It made

the residents happy.

Definitely made a difference

they talk about it the day

when they get home.

Staff

Visit from the library service with the

Walker bear to read ‘We’re Going on

a Bear Hunt’

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Impact

Built relationships between the school and residential home.

Demonstrated ways to work together for the mutual benefit of

the residents and children.

Sense of ownership and achievement for both parties.

Nurtured understanding and mutual respect.

Excitement and anticipation for children, residents and staff!

Improved communication skills and confidence in talking and

interacting together.

Put a smile on everyone’s face, residents, children, helpers

and the staff.

Next Steps/ Future Plans

As for the future plans box - we are hoping to repeat the project again with my new EYFS children in the Spring term up at Baysgarth Leisure Centre. Thank you for inviting us to complete the project - We have loved it!

For more information please contact

Ailsa Leggott (Development Officer, Community and Family Learning North Lincolnshire Council)

Ailsa.Leggott@northlincs.gov.uk

earlyyears@northlincs.gov.uk 01724 296652

Activities enjoyed by

all. Gives adults and

children good chance

to interact and chat.

Songs fun with

actions and props.

Staff