The Potting Shed café opened its doors to the public in 2022 and, since then, has had fantastic support from families of learners here and the local community.

The café is located on our LEAF site and has been professionally designed. The aim of the café was initially to provide a work opportunity for learners at school as part of the preparation for adulthood offer.  However, the café has exceeded all our aspirations and has grown into a community resource. The café is now open every Thursday & Friday from 9am – 2pm(term time) and we have hosted events for community groups such as the Chesham MS society, for local schools, SEND events hosted by the Buckinghamshire SEND team and evening events.

We are in no doubt the success of the café is down to the hospitality provided by the staff and the quality of the food. For instance, we now offer a take-out service due to demand. The menu changes weekly and the food is prepared and cooked on site. The Potting Shed horticulture site provides seasonal fresh produce such as lettuce, cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes and onions, which supports the ever-growing menu.  

The Potting Shed café has dedicated social media accounts - Facebook and Instagram, so do look out for information on the menu and upcoming events.

The staff in the café, a combination of vocational coaches and learners, support the organisation of running a busy café and front of house,  filling the roles of chef, barista and cashier.  Learners typically undertake a work experience placement on a weekly basis for short sessions, extending time ‘on the job’ as their skill level increases. Learners are supported in the café by vocational coaches and in some instances by members of the therapy team.

Do come and visit our café.