There are many skills that we need to have so that we can become more independent in leading our own lives. This curriculum has been designed to help us to look at the skills we need so that we can have more control and choice over our own lives.

We may need extra help along the way to do many things - it may also be the case that we can help someone else because they have not yet mastered a skill in full - however we are all important and are valuable.  We are here therefore at The Clifford Project to learn more about how we can live our lives and be the best that we can be, and how having a disability/additional need/a specific learning need makes us unique.  We are here to take our place in the world... and to make a difference.

Our particular focus at The Clifford Project is to give all young people the opportunity to grow and develop; to reach full potential, with a particular focus on...Work Skills, Independent/Supported Living Skills, Recreation and Leisure, Personal/Social/Health Issues and Basic Skills.

All the curriculum areas are geared towards meeting learning targets in these areas, building towards increased life skills and the ability to manage life in a successful way.

We hope to encourage young people with additional needs to recognise, and gain understanding of, their own special needs and those of others, recognising their strengths and abilities and moving them realistically to achieve goals they have set for their futures.

Thomas aged 20 I liked Centre Parks because it was very nice. We went swimming I liked the slides I liked the swimming pool because I liked the flumes. I would like to go again

Adrian aged 20 I liked Centre Parks especially the waves

Alex aged 20 The luxurious whirlpool bath in our villa was really nice

Claire aged 20 The accommodation and the facilities around the area were just so quiet and peaceful

David aged 20 I liked the villa and the space and the rabbits and the forest

Claire A aged 19 I enjoyed the swimming and the slides the badminton and the barbeque, the football and the TV! Middlesbrough lost 4 - 0!

Simon aged 23 We enjoyed the fantastic sunshine, the good fun and all the exciting opportunities

Volunteers Both aged 21 Pat and Chris I enjoyed playing badminton, serving and scoring Anon We all had a great time at Centre Parks and we'll be back in 2007"

Catriona Tuesday met at crown street stone to be picked up to go to B'ham airport by our driver steve. Booked in at airport then chilled out untill flight to alicante when arrived collected cases off cases carousel except bobs case went missing! Wednesday had a meeting with tour rep to welcome us and find out different events Her name was Mikk, we then went to outdoor market and Becky jumped when she saw a man pretending to be a statue. we had lunch in an english cafe and did some shopping. Thursday went in taxi to mundomar and then went to see a parrot show and then a drink before seeing the sea lions and one seal pecked alistairs cheek highlight was having my photo taken with a dolphin then watched the show which was excellent then had a cheese burger and coke for lunch. In the evening watched a flamenco dancers went on coach to blanket factory went to see how they were made. Then went through hills and down to spanish sea resort and had a snork. We had a music quiz we won we got a bottle of champagne. Saturday met up in cabaretorea and met andrew doyle with maureeen and mike and took us to the old town in benidorm where we also had lunch. In the evening went on the hypothermia express which took us round benidorm and then finnished off with more shopping!

Centre Parks Residential

Morning (10AM) Afternoon (2PM) Evening (7PM) Monday We travelled to Hawks head, had lunch in the Buttercup café and looked round the shops Then into Tam Havs for a walk. Picnic tea overlooking Thirlmere lake On to Centre Parks in Pennth. Arrived at 6:30 pm, lodge 31 and 32. Fell view unpacked and went to bed Tuesday Planned the week over Breakfast. Then went swimming in the village then had lunch Played snooker/ badminton rode on bikes watched a DVDBack to the villa for tea Went to the village had fun, centre and arcade then down to the lakeside. Went to the local Inn for drinks, got to bed at 11ish Wednesday Some went in search for BBQ related things whilst others had fun with sports gear Got lunch from the sports plaza shop pasties and pies. Back to the villa for another DVD Hired some bikes, some did foil fencing. Girls went and did salsa, boys prepared BBQ and watched football Thursday Had a meeting in the forest, went swimming and then gifts shopping Lunch, baked potatoes. Bike riding and shopping, then back to the villa to pack Went to Rock legend for tea and a show at 6:30, back to the movies and then a disco at ten. Bed at 11:30 Friday Breakfast at 7:30, took the bikes back. Then travelled back via the M6 to Kendal Stopped in K shoe village in Kendal and had lunch. Made it through Hail storm and got back for 2:30

I liked Centre Parks because it was very nice. We went swimming I liked the slides Thomas aged 20

I liked the swimming pool because I liked the flumes. I would like to go again Adrian aged 20

I liked Centre Parks especially the waves Alex aged 20

The luxurious whirlpool bath in our villa was really nice Claire aged 20

The accommodation and the facilities around the area were just so quiet and peaceful David aged 20

I liked the villa and the space and the rabbits and the forest Claire A aged 19

I enjoyed the swimming and the slides the badminton and the barbeque, the football and the TV! Middlesbrough lost 4 - 0! Simon aged 23

We enjoyed the fantastic sunshine, the good fun and all the exciting opportunities Volunteers Both aged 21 Pat and Chris

I enjoyed playing badminton, serving and scoring Anon

We all had a great time at Centre Parks and we'll be back in 2007

"A Centre Parks summer vacation A phone call t say that we had been upgraded. We left the progect at 10 am on shcedule. A dull drizzley morning as we travelled north. Stopping on route at ChamockRichard serices. Adrian and david found an amazing weighing machine with a sensor for hieght. Some staff were reluctant to try the experience. We diverted from the route to take the a590 to Hawkshead and discovered the Buttercups cafe for lunch. One lady served us all we nearly had to do work experience to help out in the kitchen. Excessive sunshine and fantastic views everywhere Went to tarnhoss walked all the way round and also famous for beatrix potter who wrote her books. Afterwards went to Thirlmere over looking the Lake while we had our tea. We arrived at Centre Parks around 6 PM and were directed to our VIP Luxury Villas and within the hour the whirlpool baths were in use by the students The staff and students were amazed by the large areas in living rooms and tv's in each room. Also dishwashers and washing machines with 2 bathrooms in each villa and a cloakroom. Only thing was ther was no red carpet! In the evening we went down and hired 2 bikes for the week and rode them back to the villas. Tuesday after waking, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast then went for rekky to sports hall and the village and then met up with alisons relatives and had some drinks before we all went swimming Swimming in the water dome was fun, something for everyone. Claire P enjoyed sunning herself on the top deck, Adrian was loving the water slides, specially the purple flume, bob got a fright in the water tunnel, david and simon were on the rapids and clifford enjoyed the waves. After a swim we all had lunch at the burger bar During the afternoon, we enjoyed watching an interactice who wants to be a millionaire DVD In the afternoon we played snooker and some had a bike ride. Oatcakes and wraps for tea. A real team effort. The evening was spent at the lakeside drinks all round on the way home! On wednesday we ventured to the vast sports plaza and took advantage of the many sports on offer, Mostly table tennis and badminton Some stayted for the BBQ and fortunately we were able to get the overflowing trolley of food delivered to the villa. Chris tarrents Who wants to be a millionaire DVD provided good entertainment untill the girls went off to salsa class and some of the lads went to try out some fencing! WE had a great BBQ and watched the football 4 - 0! On thursday we all had a leisurely get up and then went swimming no queues at the slides and a fantastic oppertunity to swim outside in the sunshine. We stopped in the village for gifts and had baked potatoes for lunch. After packing cases and riding bikes we got ready for a meal at the Rock Legends and then went to the show, followed by a disco great fun! Friday consisted of waking up early, getting the bikes back to the hire shop and fetching the mini bus and packing any unpacked items. We left at 9 30 in the morning and we where in the shop village in Kendal an hour later. Time for a quick shop and some lunch before heading south up the m6 to be back in stone for 2:30PM"

MY WORK PLACEMENT By Alistair Smith
My work placement is at Sue Ryder charity shop in stone which provides much needed funds for people with physical and mental disabilities. I enjoy working there as I get to meet new people everyday and take their money .I also enjoy working with the staff there as they treat me as a normal person and not someone who has a disability. Currently I am hoping to get a new placement at the shelter shop as the placement I was on had to close because of the roof being repaired.

My Work Experience at Wilkinson's and Age Concern My Work Experience is at Wilkinson and l enjoy it. This is my second year at Wilkinson and I like doing bag packing. I also Work at Age Concern. This is my second year at age concern. I like to do the steaming and sorting out the clothes.

My work placement
I work at Gentleshaws on Wednesday I enjoy flying the birds around the grass area and feeding them raw meat when they returned to me. I prepared the lynx and pumas feeds for them but I didn't like picking the raw meat up!

Clare - Work Experience Toddlers nursery/Stafford Prison 9th February 06
I am a student at the Clifford Project and I like working with the children at Christchurch in Stone. I like doing craft work and reading stories to the children at 'Toddlers' in Stone, and I like playing with the toys and jigsaw. Then I do in mats down and put them away. Then I do some singing, then we tidy everything away and we wait for Alison Carnell to come and pick us up. I like to go to Stafford prison because I like working in the case then I go to the office then I go home. On Friday I go to the 'Age Concern' and I go on the till to lunch time. Then I go back on the till to home time.

Annmarie - Age Concern 9th March 06
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I go to my work placement at Age Concern in Stone. The staff are very kind to me. I work with Michelle. Some of the jobs I do while I'm at Age Concern are hanging clothes up, steaming the clothes and showing people how to steam the clothes.

Siobhan - 8th February 06 Work placement grooming pets
I like animals and feeding and watering them, and I enjoy cleaning out. I like the dogs that are friendly, they wag their tails. If they get frightened they growl and get a muzzle put on. When I clean out the hamsters I put them in a plastic box. I enjoy working on the till, office skills photocopying sorting, and putting together papers. I like doing office work and would like to get a paid job later. As a Christmas treat we all went bowling at Stafford I got a strike that was really good. I saw my cousin Stuart there, he is the manager.

Ian - 8th February 06
I enjoyed working at Somerfield. I like stacking the shelves. I have lots of friends at Somerfield. I like to do home delivery. I am now working at the Co-Op. In the future I would like to be a store manager at Somerfield.

Simon - 8th February 06
Performing arts, I love to do shows. Pizza club is great. I love to sing. I enjoy to sign when I sing 'You Raise Me Up' and that is my goal. I want to b a singer, last timeI took part in Grease! I working café do it for the tables and chairs. Simon and Annmarie Stockton to the knife and forks clear away to the end Jane
I enjoy helping the students at RDA. I lead the ponies and help tack them down. There is one horse and two. Their names are Ashley and Glyn and Fern and Sky. I do this on Wednesday morning. I enjoy going to 'Wiggles and Giggles on Thursday morning. I like playing with the children and feeding the babies. I enjoy putting them to sleep

Jane, Richard, and Ben - 15th March 2006
My work is at the Fire Headquarters. We go to the Fire headquarters with Liz in her car or in the van. We sign in and get a visitor badge then we put our boots on. We go to the shed and get the tools. We go and ask what work needs to be done. Types of work we have been doing - sweeping up leaves and putting them on the compost heap to rot down, and weeding of the flower beds. We rake the flower beds. What we do at break time - Break time we use the canteen and toilets. We work for about one and a half hours.