SUPPORTED learning students in Leamington have reopened the college bistro as a takeaway in line with coronavirus restrictions.
The students, who all have learning difficulties or disabilities, work in the bistro at Leamington College as part of their catering course to equip them with employment skills for the hospitality industry.
It is normally open during term-time serving the public along with staff and students at the college.
Food is prepared and served by supported learning catering and skillbuilder students under staff supervision.
Supported learning curriculum leader Carol Savage said the students had impressed with adapting to the new way of working.
She told the Observer: “Like many businesses in the hospitality industry, we had to make changes to the way we operate which has involved us moving to a takeaway service and restricting our opening to just staff and students.
“For our supported learning students, the bistro is such a valuable part of their course in preparing them for a career in hospitality and we wanted to maintain that real-life experience which stands them in such good stead.
“The students have adapted to the changes really well and have worked really hard to make a success of the new service. Because of their learning and emotional needs, a lot of our students have struggled during the lockdown so they have really benefited by being able to come back and work together again as a team.”
