In March 2025, the staff at John Grant School in Caister-on-Sea took part in a whole-staff, face-to-face TACPAC training session with Trainer Vanessa Gilbert. A few months later, in October 2025, we had the pleasure of visiting the school to see how they were getting on.

It was wonderful to hear about their experiences — how they've been using TACPAC with their receivers, the progress they've seen, and the confidence they've gained since the training.

A huge thank you to everyone at John Grant School for welcoming us back and sharing your journey!

Blog written by Roline Coetzee, PMLD Specialist unit manager/Pre-Formal coordinator and Hilary Wainer Director of TACPAC Ltd.

Vanessa who delivered our TACPAC training did so  with so much passion and dedication, our school has invested in this very beneficial and valuable resource.

Pre-formal learners with difficult and challenging behaviours from around school join in weekly TACPAC sessions. The effect TACPAC has on their behaviours is very rewarding and satisfying to witness.

We have a student with autism who could not settle.  We saw how TACPAC transformed his behaviour in such a positive way. He used to receive the TACPAC session in his own 'safe space', away from the group, and could not sustain a whole session. Now he is happy to sit in a group with his peers on his own chair and sometimes, even deliver TACPAC to his 1:1 adult support worker by rolling a paint brush on their arm etc. When shown the TACPAC symbol to indicate the start of the session, he will get up and collect his personal bag and hand it to an adult. He will stay engaged for the whole session! During some of the activities, one of the students with very limited spoken language, will speak for himself when he says "It's nice!"

We make very good use of knowledge practical and theoretical from our TACPAC Training. This resource is growing stronger all around school and is being used as part of our Curriculum and timetables in an increasing way by more and more staff.