Local care home residents take a trip back to the classroom

Residents from a care home in Sutton took a trip back to school – but this classroom had a Victorian twist.

With the new school term now here, team members from Care UK’s Tennyson Grange, on Westmead Road, took residents to Holly Lodge, an educational learning centre, where they were welcomed back into the classroom for a Victorian school-inspired lesson.

On the day, residents learned about Victorian school etiquette and the different methods of discipline that were used at the time. Residents enjoyed using blackboard slates for a handwriting lesson, before taking part in a history lesson which included a demonstration of a Victorian mangle, a device used to dry clothes.

 

Many of the residents said the visit brought back fond memories of their own childhoods and their days spent at school. On the day, residents spoke to team members at the centre about how things have changed over the years and how they were glad they no longer had to worry about the cane and doing hard sums. 

Rita Caine, aged 77, a resident at Tennyson Grange said: “My favourite part of the day was learning about the different methods of discipline. I also got to wear the dunce hat and have my picture taken with it which made me laugh!”

Brighton Nyagomo, General Manager at Tennyson Grange, said: “Here at Tennyson Grange, we are always looking for new and exciting experiences for the residents to try and trips like this are a great way of doing just that, in such a fantastically immersive way.

“The day was a great success, and the residents had a lot of fun learning about the past through practical activities and guided talks. It was lovely to hear them share funny stories about their days at school and their childhood – we definitely still have a few gigglers at the back of the classroom today.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to Holly Lodge for welcoming us and making the day so memorable for everyone. We’re already planning our next visit!”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Tennyson Grange incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the home has been configured to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.