Madley Park - Drama, Dance & Singing classes for children with learning disabilities move to The Henry Box School

April 2013

Announcing a NEW CLASS for children with learning disabilities in Witney near Oxford for ages 12 - 18yrs (WOAPA Too! seniors).
Saturday afternoon, 3.30 - 5.00
 
WOAPA classes at Madley Park - Springfield School in Witney have been very successful - as have WOAPA's existing class for children with learning disabilities aged 7-11yrs (WOAPA Too! juniors), Saturdays 2.00-3.30pm in Witney near Oxford.
 
Don't take our word for it - here are some of the comments parents have sent us.
 
"I can't believe the difference in the children just in 1 term. They did so much today ... and it was brilliant!!!"
 
"Your enthusiasm and care for the children shines through, you are a wonderful team and we really appreciate all the hard work you put in".
 
"Thank you again for giving these special children the chance to perform and express themselves in this way".
 
"The progress the children have made is outstanding".
 
"It is so lovely seeing XXX having so much fun as well as learning and developing in so many ways".
 
"Thanks for today .. it was fab. I know that mums around me were amazed at what their little stars were doing. XXX absolutely loves his WOAPA sessions and it is so great to watch him getting so much out of the things that you are doing. I was really impressed with what I saw today ... stunned at what you have got these very special kids doing. Thank you so much".
 
"We would like to thank you for teaching XXX. It was wonderful for us to see them in a performance but more importantly, it was fantastic for them. They have been able to attend a class with their friends, so that their contributions are valued and they have a sense of belonging and achievement - real achievement. It has been lovely for them to do an activity that other teenagers do: it gives them a topic of conversation and a shared interest. They can show their cousins what they have been doing. Seeing XX remember some dance moves, and XXX singing some words of a song in a performance is like 'The Voice' or    'X-factor' for us and them!" 

"I would just like to say what a fantastic job you have done with the Springfield children. Seeing them yesterday, full of confidence and thoroughly enjoying themselves was amazing!!"

"A big thank you to for doing a fantastic job not just today but over the past few months with the kids. Speaking for XXX I know she thoroughly enjoyed herself because she would come home and tell me about some of the songs and the dances you had covered in the sessions. Seeing her participate today was priceless ...  with a beaming smile and obviously thoroughly enjoying herself was to be quite honest incredibly emotional. If there was anything I could have wished for XXX to be able to participate in it would have been singing and drama because I know underneath that quiet exterior Is a side that loves music and dancing and that was so evident today - she stood in front of the audience full of confidence and that has come from being part of the WOAPA group".

"Thank you for making this experience such a positive one not just for XXX but all of the children there today. I don't think anyone could have failed to see the positive energy in that room. It has been such a delight seeing XXX actively engage and enjoy something as much as she has done WOAPA".

"We thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's performance! The children all did so well, focussing attention, listening, learning all the moves and words - and obviously enjoying every minute! XXX has gained so much from the sessions in terms of confidence, enjoyment of music and the obvious physical exercises which help him greatly. He loved all the songs you chose as they were familiar tunes that he could immediately respond to. We are extremely grateful to you for giving him the opportunity to join in with an after school club, it's always difficult to explain to XXX why his siblings can go to certain clubs which aren't suitable for him, now he's really proud that he can do 'grown-up' clubs too! We love the fact that he has his WOAPA T-shirt to wear too, it helps him feel prepared for the club and feel part of the group, he's really proud of it".

"We really did not know what to expect but were overwhelmed by what we saw. XXX comes home buzzing from every WOAPA session and is keen to sing and dance for us some small snippets of what he has done with you, but we did not realise quite how much the children had learned and how brilliantly they could perform".

"We have seen his confidence and self esteem grow this term. He would never sing a song before and now he is doing dance routines and whole sections of the songs that you are learning. I am sure that through your work with the children he is developing his learning skills and capacity to learn and remember, as well as belief in himself. Watching the group on Monday was delightful, joyful and inspiring as the children demonstrated what they could do...they were proud of their performance and as parents we were also immensely proud. There was an overwhelming sense of fun, enjoyment and achievement".

"Thank you so much to you and your team for giving XXX the chance to enjoy dance, drama and singing. He cannot wait for next term and neither can we as we look forward to what WOAPA will achieve in the future".

"I cannot say how grateful we are to you for enabling XXX to overcome his autistic difficulties and take such an active part in performing in front of an audience. I am sure it will do enormous good for his confidence".
 
 
 WOAPA - Singing, Dance & Drama for children from all over West Oxfordshire including CARTERTON, BURFORD, WITNEY, EYNSHAM & WOODSTOCK. Dance classes: Drama classes: singing classes for kids