Education
At each of our children's homes, we aim to provide not only first-class therapeutic care and treatment for traumatised children, but also an effective and inspiring education which allows each child to catch up with their mainstream peers, develop an enjoyment of learning and achieve their potential.
Most of the children who come to us have experienced severe disruption in their educational progress. Some have never been able to manage formal schooling. Most have formal Statements of Educational Needs. At our schools, however, children are never excluded, and our therapeutic approach enables all to achieve and experience success, often for the first time, so building confidence and self-esteem. Those who are with us for two years or more experience exceptional outcomes. Living in community, the success experienced at each stage by older peers provides a sense of hope which is crucial to the younger children.
The cognitive development of children who have suffered early life emotional trauma is impaired, indeed often partially arrested at the time associated with the trauma. Children and young people often come to us with diagnoses of cognitive disabilities which are found in the longer term to be incorrect. When the emotional trauma is effectively treated, the child's cognitive abilities are free to develop, and rapid progress can be made.
Traumatised children and young people need a therapeutic education - an education which considers and addresses emotional and cognitive development together, and in stages tailor-made to the needs of the whole child. Such children and young people need an integrated, seamless, containing experience across all aspects of their lives, and our integrated approach ensures that this is provided.
Accordingly, at each one of our homes and their linked schools, we think together at all times about the particular emotional and cognitive needs of each child and young person. We have our own Registered Special Schools at Thornby Hall and at Greenfields House, and we work in partnership with the on-site Norfolk Local Authority Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) at Earthsea House and Merrywood House.
We provide expert help in the transition from special school or PRU to mainstream school or college, where appropriate. Where children have moved on to mainstream school or to further education, we provide continuing support and work closely with the school or college which they are attending.
Each school follows the National Curriculum, but offers differentiated individual programmes of learning tailored to the needs of each child and young person.
We have specialist Educational Psychologists consulting to us, to help diagnose and address specific learning difficulties.
Thornby Hall School (age 12-16)
Thornby's school offers the full National Curriculum, with a wide range of arts and crafts, sporting opportunities, educational trips and extra-curricular activities. Classes are small, enabling individual attention.
Many young people from Thornby go on to further education, and some to university. Of recent leavers, all have achieved successes at appropriate levels, including one young person who has received unconditional offers from a number of universities, and another who has secured a place at a prestigious college that provides technical staff for Formula 1 racing teams.
Greenfields School (age 5-11)
Greenfields offers the full National Curriculum, with sporting opportunities, educational trips, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Classes are small, allowing individual attention for each child.
At Greenfields' most recent inspection, a number of areas of provision were singled out as noteworthy:
- a comprehensive induction programme for each child
- learning opportunities are created that allow for the possibility of return to mainstream schools
- positive relationships between staff and children
- excellent liaison with local mainstream schools.
Strong links have been established with Medway education authority, which has allowed day pupils to be accommodated as well as the children resident at Greenfields House.
Earthsea Pupil Referral Unit
Earthsea PRU offers the full National Curriculum, with small classes allowing individual attention for each child. The Earthsea PRU was singled out for particular praise, at the recent Norfolk PRU inspection. Childhood First works closely with Norfolk County Council colleagues to ensure that the complex emotional and cognitive needs of all Earthsea House and Merrywood House pupils are met within the PRU, as within the children's homes.
