Grow 19 College SEN students Train Travel Training From Maidstone East station to Hollingbourne station 17 October 2025
Nine SEN students and their 4 tutors undertook a train travel training journey to Hollingbourne station’s Signal Box Café. All students were between the ages of 18 and 25. At the café, some of the students practiced life skills by ordering and paying for their own refreshments – hot chocolate being the most popular order on this chilly October morning. They sat to enjoy their refreshments and practised their socialising skills.
At Maidstone East station the students learnt how to read the electronic display boards to find the correct platform and train time, etc. they also learnt the reason for the yellow line and why they should split into smaller groups when entering the train. Whilst on the train the students were introduced to the friendly and approachable train manager Andy who assured them, they could always ask someone like him working on the train for help. Whist at Hollingbourne station the students learnt about the cycle rails, train ramps, information point and the defibrillator. The trip was co-created with Grow 19’s tutor Jo to ensure the objectives, and the needs of the students were catered for.
All students said they would feel more confident when travelling on a train, they would know where to gain assistance if needed and all said they would like to travel on a train again soon; however, some felt they would need someone to help them to buy their tickets and ensure they were on the correct train.
Jo, the tutor who had attended a previous trip last year is keen to receive a Southeastern travel permit to be able to undertake independent train travel training with her students. Currently Jo is undertaking bus travel training as this is more affordable than train training. The cost of train tickets has prevented train travel training, Southeastern has agreed to provide a permit for train travel training purposes only. Jo is delighted and thinks she will be able to encourage the students to be even more confident rail users and believes some of her students could potentially become independent rail users.
Kent CRP would like to thank Julie and her volunteers at The Signal Box café for making us all feel so welcome and to Southeastern for funding these travel training sessions. The tutor has asked about a trip next year with possible walks along the North Downs Way from one station to another.
A strong collaborative relationship between Grow 19 and The Signal Box café has been developing over the last 12 months. More able students from Grow 19 are being offered a 1 year supported ‘work experience apprenticeship’ in the café – working 1 day per week. Students’ skills are developing at different rates. Hayden is quickly developing into a great asset; he told me he is really enjoying his work their washing up and preparing food. Julie, the café a manager has informed me that Hayden’s communication and kitchen skills have developed a great deal since spending time with the team and she is going to offer him a paid position on a Sat. Hayden is a valuable role model for the visiting students, and they really appreciated seeing him in the café during their travel training trip as his role is something they can aspire to. The Hollingbourne project is organically growing stronger with further hugely beneficial spin off projects for the local and not so local communities, more so than we could have ever originally planned for. Kent CRP has a great deal to be proud of here!
Kent CRP would like to thank Matt Fraser and Southeastern for funding these invaluable travel training sessions. This is the fourth of 6 trips planned on the Kent Downs Line this year. With 3 tutors now upskilled to lead their own train travel training trips, supported by the generous Southeastern travel permit, it is estimated that over double this number of trips will take place on the KDL by the end of the year.
