Small Steps. Big Progress. Another Milestone at Rose Cottage.

Sometimes progress is measured in small steps. Sometimes, it looks like walking through the doors of school, meeting new people, trying something new — and staying long enough to enjoy it. For RC, one of the young people we support, his latest visit to school was a really significant moment.

When RC first arrived at Imagine Care, the idea of him comfortably accessing school and engaging with the people and activities around him felt a long way off. His needs are complex, and everyone involved has worked hard to understand what helps him feel safe, supported and ready to engage. So, seeing him walk independently into the school building on Thursday was a huge achievement.

RC arrived at school and walked straight into the main building to meet KM. He was calm and comfortable as he explored different parts of the school, including KM's classroom and the hub area, supported by the staff around him. He also met two members of staff he hadn't met before, RF and OW. Rather than finding the unfamiliar people and surroundings overwhelming, RC responded positively to their introductions and remained engaged. Across the visit, he interacted with four adults, listened when spoken to and was happy to move around the school alongside staff. For RC, that's meaningful progress.

The visit wasn't simply about being in school. RC was able to take part in activities, too. In the kitchen, he helped make tea. With some prompting, he opened drawers and found and passed spoons to staff. It might sound like a simple task, but it gave RC the opportunity to practise following instructions, contributing to an everyday activity and doing something for himself. And he clearly enjoyed being recognised for his efforts.

Staff praised RC throughout the activity, focusing on what he was doing and the effort he was making. That positive encouragement continued throughout the visit. RC also had a go at mark-making. He picked up a pen and drew a circle while standing at the activity. He chose not to write his name, and that was absolutely fine. The important thing was that he was willing to pick up the pen, take part and tolerate the activity. Then there were the darts.

RC approached the activity positively and clearly enjoyed throwing the darts. Staff encouraged every attempt, celebrating his participation rather than worrying about the result. That encouragement helped him stay involved and motivated.

One of the most important parts of the visit was something that happened repeatedly. RC regularly said that he wanted to go back to the car. Imagine Care staff members Ryan and Mark responded calmly and consistently. Rather than making this into a battle, they acknowledged what RC was saying, reassured him and gently redirected his attention towards what was happening next. And RC kept going.

He was able to remain in the environment, move on to another activity and continue engaging with the people around him. That ability to tolerate something that was difficult for him, with the right support, is a really important step forward. It also shows the value of the relationships RC has built with the people supporting him. Ryan and Mark know him, understand his communication and were able to give him the reassurance and encouragement he needed.

After spending around 20 minutes in the main school building, RC walked with KM, Ryan and Mark to the sports hall, where they met RF. RC entered the games hall confidently and immediately got involved. He enjoyed kicking a football towards the goal, scoring several times and responding enthusiastically to the praise he received. He also joined in with basketball, enjoying the sensation of bouncing the ball and making several attempts to score. Once again, RC was happy to share the space with several adults and remained engaged throughout. He spent another 20 minutes in the sports hall.

That means RC successfully spent around 40 minutes within the school environment overall — moving between different areas, meeting staff, taking part in activities and managing a situation that he regularly told staff he wanted to leave. For a young person for whom accessing an educational setting has been such a significant challenge, this is an incredible achievement.

The most exciting thing about progress like this is that it creates possibilities for what comes next. KM has already sourced a music keyboard for RC to explore during his next visit. RC enjoys music, so the keyboard will give him another activity that feels motivating and enjoyable, while creating further opportunities for communication, interaction and engagement.

There is no expectation that every visit will look exactly like this one. Progress isn't always a straight line, and there will undoubtedly be days when things feel harder. But Thursday showed what can happen when a young person is given time, patience, encouragement and the right people around them.

RC walked through the school doors. He met new people. He explored. He played darts. He scored goals. He played basketball. And, most importantly, he stayed and engaged. We're incredibly proud of him.

And a huge thank you to Ryan and Mark for the patience, encouragement and support they gave RC throughout the visit. Their ability to understand him, respond calmly and keep encouraging him made a real difference. For RC, this was one school visit. For everyone supporting him, it was a wonderful reminder of just how far he has come.