Schoolchildren have set up their own bank with pupils taking on the role of cashiers in a new community link up with business.
Carlisle’s James Rennie School, which educates pupils aged three to 19 with severe or profound learning needs, hit on the idea as way to help children with their numeracy and communication skills.
Now, after collaborating with the Cumberland Building Society, they are ready to role out their moveable bank. It will be used by all 17 classes to deposit and withdraw money for snacks and cooking.
In preparation for the launch, a group of children enjoyed a day working with Cumberland staff in the boardroom at its headquarters. This involved them practising their counting skills and learning about handling money.
They were also taught the basics of customer service with pupils role-playing both cashiers and customers and topped up their knowledge with a second session at their California Road school.
The children designed a logo which was then incorporated into a special bank counter built at their school by another local firm, Northern Construction.
Oliver Wilson, Assistant Headteacher at James Rennie, said the objective was to make a positive difference to the pupils, specifically working on interaction skills and some pupils’ physicality.
He said: “A number of our students find it quite a challenge to do peer-to-peer communication. The environment we created for the bank enables them to do just that. We are seeing students who we wouldn’t usually see engaged working with each other doing role plays. They learn about social interaction, facial expressions, tone of voice and all this is really invaluable for them.”
Andrew Gordon, The Cumberland’s Head of Relationships, said: “They were such fun, uplifting days both at our offices and then when we went to the school. The children brought so much enthusiasm to the sessions. As an organisation we are passionate about helping the local community. A lot of work we do with schools is about encouraging the financial awareness of children. It fits very nicely for us as the local building society being out in the community helping drive up financial awareness in schools.”
Mr Wilson said it was an experience for the children just to be able to go to the real head office of a major company. He added: “They came back with massive smiles on their faces and were talking about it for days afterwards. Seeing the faces and some of the engagement of pupils has been fantastic.”
