Longfellow’s Café, next door to Fosse Way School, Westfield, is not only serving somewhere delicious to go for the community, but also allowing students from the school somewhere to develop essential skills.

The café opened around seven years ago, offering students the chance to learn about catering and enhance other skills, such as interacting with other people in a public environment, handling money, and putting in to practice co-ordination, organisation and practical skills.

In October 2017, the café was refurbished, with the help of parents, teachers and volunteers to create the welcoming, modern space that visitors see today. Manager, Debbie Lockley, says: “It is really rewarding to watch students grow; in both their skills and confidence. Some are even furthering their hospitality knowledge, post-16, or completing a GCSE in the subject.

“We offer lunches, sandwiches, soups and cakes – and as much as we can is homemade – for example, students will have fun measuring and rolling out dough for the cookies that we then sell later in the day. This helps with maths skills, and they enjoy waiting on tables, washing up and counting money, polishing cutlery, writing orders; all essential skills at the café.”

Pupils can take part in morning, midday and afternoon sessions on site, taking up to six students at a time.

Longfellow’s is open from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., and sometimes during the holidays. Last year, they ran a pop-up ice-cream sundae shop, which was extremely popular during the hot weather! As students are learning, and often have complex needs, visitors are asked to be kind and patient.

Students have also been making crafts and gifts that are on sale at Longfellow’s, with all of the money going back into Post-16 enterprise projects or days out.

Pupils have also been working alongside local Westfield companies, such as CFH Docmail Ltd., providing a buffet run for workers along the road. Students have walked to the venue, working on road safety and communication skills, and more recently, have been learning how to prepare snacks – essential for some, who will be learning to live independently. They also walk to Westfield butcher, G. Mitchard & Sons, to source meat, trying to support local companies where possible.

Debbie adds: “We see a huge difference in pupils from when they start to when they finish, and we are looking for more companies who may be able to help our students develop their skills further as job coaches. Both Whitstone’s and the White Post have helped by offering further work experience, and we are extremely grateful to them. It would really be the icing on the cake to see one of our students working locally.”

Belonging to Bath and Mendip Partnership Trust, Fosse Way School’s partner, The Mendip School in Shepton Mallet, has its own community training café, which will be reopening on 5th April. There will be a celebration assembly, serving complimentary food and a voucher for a cookie to use when ordering a hot drink on a return visit.