Provider Info
Forge Mill Farm – Forest Fun Week family SEND – Every Thursday
Join us on Thursdays for Family SEND sessions – SEND inclusive, with a parent or adult carer attending free of charge. We offer a safe, calm and welcoming space where young people with additional needs can explore the farm at their own pace and be themselves without judgement. Activities follow our weekly themes but are always adapted to individual needs, creating a supportive, “have a go” environment.
Our friendly team is on hand throughout, helping young people to enjoy hands on experiences that build confidence, curiosity and joy. Families and carers are encouraged to join in, making memories and learning together. Many young people form new friendships, and families often connect with others who understand their daily challenges.
We know some children may feel overwhelmed, so quiet areas are always available to rest and reset. We hope everyone can stay for the full session, but they are free to leave whenever they need to.
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About Us
Forge Mill Farm, part of Sandwell Valley Country Park, is an established and well loved farm visitor attraction. It serves Sandwell residents by providing opportunities to encounter the outdoors, animals, food farming and the wider environment through family days out and educational visits.
About Us
Education and Outreach team have been based here at Forge Mill Farm for a little over a year and have worked with over 8000 people with more than 300 visits or interactions.
We pride ourselves on delivering a unique experience every time we host an individual or group and want make sure that everyone has a fabulous time.
Our Holiday activity offering encourages young people to be outside and in the environment whilst embracing technology in a creative and appropriate way such as photography or stop motion filming. We want young people to develop their interactive skills and develop new relationships so our team challenge day are a great way for this to happen.
Whilst the team has only been in existence for a little we have collectively more than 30 years experience of working with young people groups and families in education, youth and outreach settings.
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What makes Forge Mill Holiday Activities unique?
No two days are the same, one day you could be making butter then next venturing through the woodland on a low rope and then on to some team building and stem challenges. The activities provided are aimed at stimulating the creative mind, reinforcing collaborative learning, challenging personal boundaries and developing interpersonal and social skills all whilst having fun.
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What benefits can you expect from this?
Aside from the interaction that you will have with others some of the key benefits would be just from being in an outdoor environment and interacting with nature. Being in the outdoors goes along to promoting mental health and wellbeing. Physical activities will help to strengthen and support growth and the challenges themselves will stimulate intellectual capacity.
These sessions offer opportunities for experiences that young people may not have access to without this programme. It aims develop interpersonal and interactive skills. It offers experiential learning activties and teaches young people about the environment they are in and how we can better
As well as benefiting from being in the outdoors a lot of what we offer helps to develop soft skills eg communication, interacting with others.
You will also have the opportunity to visit our farm interact with the animals and have a fully immersive day and once your sessions have ended you and your family can stay on the farm until it closes if you choose to.
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What makes this activity inclusive?
We strive to make our activities as inclusive as possible and are always open to making accommodations where feasible and reasonable. With a variety of facilities available, if there’s something you feel we might have overlooked, please don’t hesitate to speak with one of our team members. We will do our best to support your needs or direct you to someone or a service that can help.
Family Farm SEND day – These sessions are design for young people with SEND needs.
We offer a safe environment for young people with SEND needs where you will have great fun and create new memories. Join us to explore our forest and the farm, get crafty with the things we find in a safe environment where you will have great fun. To ensure young people feel confidante and have support in an unfamiliar environment a Family Member/Carer are asked to attend this session with them.
What They Say About Us
”I can honestly say Winston and Becky are amazing with my daughter, she loves them! I never worry when she’s there I know she’s having fun and she’s safe :)”
”My boys had a fabulous time. I was worried the older children would get bored but they had the best time and I wished I had booked them on more sessions.”
”Wouldn’t change a thing. Absolutely amazing my child loved every part of it and adores the staff they made him feel so comfortable and had a great time. He can’t wait to come back to the next one. Xxx”
”My Daughter loved it.. especially the farm part and the tractor riding across the park part .. she would have loved if there was helping out with the animals as well as feeding them .. all together this one has been her favourite out of the 3 or 4 holiday clubs she has been to in the last year or 2, she asked me not to sign her up for more but after being at this one she said she wishes she had done the whole week”
“Both children and staff enjoyed our day. Thank you to all the staff who made it possible.”
“My boys had a fabulous time. I was worried the older children would get bored but they had the best time and I wish I had booked them on more of the sessions”
Please book onto the sessions using the 16-digit code provided by your school. Please remember some of our activities will be taking place outside in the country park so appropriate clothing is essential.
Contact Email: Learn_well@sandwell.gov.uk
Social media:
Facebook:@forgemillfarm
If your child does not receive free school meals please email the activity provider, your booking will not be confirmed until you have a response from the provider