Repeat for Kids (Hartlepool)

Background

Repeat for Kids is a social enterprise activity centre in Hartlepool, County Durham. It is suitable for families with young children aged 4+, including neurodivergent and disabled children. It was started up by a young couple who have over 30 years of experience in supporting young individuals.

They strongly believe that every child should have a safe haven where they can feel comfortable and rewarded for being themselves in their own unique way. It is their mission to ensure every child feels valued, safe and leaves the centre wanting to come back.

The activity centre offers what is essentially a sensory “rainforest” that is equipped with many different resources offering sensory support and activities to help physical, emotional and educational needs. It is tailored for SEND children and children with learning disabilities and autistic people.

Sensory Resources

The room is full of activities and play equipment that offer stimulatory input and experiences for children to help them learn, relax and gain a sense of sensory relief. There are things that light up, move, have various textures and make sounds too.

Things that children can play and interact with include;

• A soft play area with soft rubber floor mats.
• Two raised beds with pillows – one with a little slide and the other with a climbing frame. Children can also look through the binoculars mounted on the side of the beds.
• Sensory toys including colourful building blocks, soft squishy balls with varying textures, and cuddly toys.
• A hopscotch mat with interactive liquid sensory floor tiles of different colours.
• Wooden bead mazes and a toy sink and kitchen with lots of parts that children can turn, twist, pull/push etc.
• Hammocks for children to lie and swing inside. Each hammock is suspended on a wooden frame much like a swing set in a playground.
• Animations and imagery projected onto the wall to one side of the room for children to sit and look at.
• A sheltered gazebo with camouflage netting, fairy lights and soft padded seats to sit on.
• Small dark tents in one corner of the room.
• A balance beam that children can practice balancing on.
• Mini ballpits featuring inflated rubber rings filled with plastic coloured balls.
• Portable lanterns around the room that create different lighting effects.
• A tray filled with beans for children to move their hands in to gain sensory stimulus from the feel and texture.

Other Resources

Other things worth mentioning include:

• Tables and chairs are provided in the room for arts and crafts activities and for people to eat and drink at.
• There is a fidget toy dispenser – you have to insert a one pound coin to buy a toy.
• There is music and a rainforest soundtrack playing in the room.

Follow their Facebook page by clicking here to check out other information.

Sessions

People can book various different sessions for their little ones to attend. The sessions available include:

• After school sensory play sessions every Wednesday – 1-1.5 hours long and taking place in the evening.
• Private sensory play sessions every day except Mondays and Fridays – each session is 2 hours long.
• General play sessions including Stay And Play and Summer Club drop-off sessions. The drop-off sessions are 2 hours long for children between 4-11 years old and are not suitable for any children requiring 1-1 support. A snack and drink are also provided at the drop-off sessions. All children attending the Stay And Play sessions must be accompanied by an adult and these sessions are 1.5 hours long. All general play sessions are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during school holidays only.

Click here to view details on booking availability and times. You can book parties for birthdays by messaging their Facebook page.

Accessibility

As well as being designed to accommodate autistic children and children with learning disabilities, this activity centre in Hartlepool is also accessible to people with physical disabilities too.

Wheelchair Access

The main entrance into the unit has steps in front and a wheelchair-friendly pathway leading to it from one side. The entrance boasts double doors leading into the building. The entire space inside is all flat with even floor surface throughout. There are activities and resources that don’t involve walking, climbing or crawling. These include sensory toys, the gazebo, the projections and the general environment.

Toilet Facilities

There is a female and male toilet on site along with an accessible toilet in the same area. This includes baby changing facilities.

Location

This activity centre is located in an industrial estate which is a short drive south from Hartlepool town centre. It’s also a very short drive from the coast and is not far away from Seaton Carew town and beach. Other handy places near to Repeat for Kids include the Teesbay Retail Park right outside the industrial estate – there is an Iceland and Lidl supermarket along with The Range and B&M. Places to eat around here include Starbucks, Burger King and Lyla Bell’s Café.

Autism Friendly

The entire activity centre sells itself for being autism friendly. A lot of the activities and resources are sensory orientated and can help children with sensory relief, stimulatory needs, relaxation, emotional regulation, proprioception input, vestibular practicing, motor skills, social skills and independence and confidence. The space is all open, so children can gain unrestricted access to all amenities. There are support staff in attendance at all times should a child feel uncomfortable at any point.

Atmosphere

It is very rainforest themed. This includes rainforest sounds, a soft calming soundtrack, and soft ambient lighting (no bright lights) with cool colours like greens/yellows and blues. Physically, it is all in one large room and everything is spread out.

Parking

Onsite parking is located right outside the unit. Should spaces ever get full up, people can park at various spots around the area. There are no restrictions or parking fees.

Public Transport

The location is very near to Seaton Carew train station. Trains operate here from Hartlepool, as far north as Sunderland and Seaham, or as far south as Stockton and Yarm.

The nearest bus stop is within walking distance from the activity centre. The bus service is the number one Stagecoach that runs from Seaton Carew, stops at the train station and also runs from Hartlepool.

Conclusion

We hope you found this listing helpful in your search for things to do and activities for your autistic child and children with learning disabilities in the Hartlepool region. For other places in the area that have good accessibility, click here.

Nearby places to eat out include:

• Gelato Jo Jo
• Glady’s Vintage Tearoom