Leeds City College

We are proud to share that Leeds City College’s High Needs campus, The Vine, has been recognised for its rebound therapy provision and accredited as a Centre of Excellence in a testament to the outstanding dedication of staff and learners.

The recognition comes during a time of significant strain for the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system across the country and the region, with rising numbers of young people with Education and Health Care Plans and lack of specialist provisions and staffing to deliver appropriate education and care.

Rebound therapy is an intervention that uses specialised trampolines to stimulate movement, balance and sensory benefits. It is part of a tailored provision offered by a handful of other centres as part of the ‘Leeds Local Offer’.

Sarah Simpkins, Deputy Director of SEND and Inclusive Provision at the centre said:

“Rebound therapy continues to play a transformative role in our provision.

“The gentle, rhythmic movement of the trampoline helps many students develop improved muscle tone, body awareness, and balance. For others, the calming sensory experience promotes relaxation, regulation, and reduced anxiety.

“The recognition for The Vine provision shows the power of specialised provisions, where every learner, regardless of complexity, is given the opportunity to thrive.”

In December the Government announced £3 billion in funding to create around 50,000 new specialist SEND places, though policy attention remains broadly on early intervention and localised mainstream school-age places.

Centres like The Vine, offering post-16 bespoke, therapeutic and specialist provision are rarer, however, and demand for specialist post-school age provision remains high from families of SEND children.