Dorothy the Bus
We have always prided ourselves on our commitment to developing children’s social, emotional and mental wellbeing and have several staff members trained to deliver therapeutic interventions.
Whilst we have a holistic approach to developing wellbeing, we felt it would be beneficial to have a designated space in school where children could talk freely and engage in group activities and support sessions. Not content with a simple classroom, Mrs Zanelli set about researching more inspirational and creative approaches and finally settled on the idea of a double decker bus.
Dorothy’s journey
In 2019, we purchased a double decker bus and were delighted when the previous owner drove it up to Whitby and parked ‘Dorothy’ on the school playground.
She was in reasonable condition but needed a full overhaul to meet our vision of being a bright, welcoming environment for children to access wellbeing sessions, phonic interventions and other activities.
With the support of local companies, staff members, parents and friends of the school, Dorothy was – over several months – transformed into a fantastic and inspiring place to learn, talk and feel safe.
Dorothy’s daily use
Dorothy is used on a daily basis by a variety of children from across the school. The space is used for a variety of activities, including phonic interventions, Compass Buzz sessions, art therapy, lunchtime clubs and much more besides.
