At Abbey Court we believe that the opportunity to attend a Key Stage residential is a vital part of a pupil’s progression. In school, pupils are faced with a series of challenges and obstacles to overcome and, equipped with the skills that they have developed, residential opportunities give them a chance to practise those skills in a real-life environment. The importance of education outside of school is essential in enhancing their individual learning experiences; not only does it provide support for the students to develop friendships with other pupils, it enables them to practise their social skills in a different but safe environment, and provides a chance to practise engaging, appropriately, with the range of unfamiliar adults they encounter. It is felt that residential opportunities develop many key skills such as independence, resilience, cognitive ability, communication and can been seen to improve a student’s sense of well-being and achievement in a practical situation.