Students from Pegasus School, Bladon House School and residents from Ecclesbourne Lodge have set up Ecclesbourne Allotment Committee. Students and residents hold the roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, while others have preferred to be committee members. The first job for the committee will be to work on plans to hold a mini music festival at the allotments for fellow students and residents in the summer. The music festival will build on the success of the first allotment BBQ event which took place in June 2014. The Ecclesbourne Allotments are situated at the Groups Garden Centre, Ecclesbourne Plant Centre, in Duffield Derbyshire.
The committee will be supported by eight first year business students from the University of Derby as Claire Hancox, Teacher at Pegasus School, put the music festival project forward to the University of Derby’s / Derby City Councils First year undergraduate student project. On Wednesday 18th February staff students and residents from Pegasus School and Ecclesbourne Lodge attended a meeting at Derby City Council House where the student project was launched and introductions took place.
The first committee meeting will take place on Wednesday 25th February in which a constitution will be written up and plans will be started. The meetings will take place weekly for the rest of the spring term. As committee members students and residents will be able their experience to work towards an AQA unit award.
We are delighted to announce that the SENAD Group have acquired Next Generation Healthcare Ltd (NGH) who will merge specifically with SENAD Community Support Services.
NGH have 21 years experience of providing comprehensive and high quality rehabilitation packages and support for people with a wide range of conditions including Acquired Brain Injury and mental health problems.
The merger will combine the complimentary services of both companies, enabling us to provide a greater range of innovative options for our customers, as well as enabling us to expand geographically.
To find out more about NGH please visit the current NGH website
Over the past 6 months Brian Jones, Chief Executive Officer of the SENAD Group has been part of a children’s taskforce exploring how the commissioning and delivery of services can be improved to achieve better outcomes for looked after children and young people with complex needs. The taskforce combined the expertise of the Chidren’s Services Development Group(CDSG) which consists of providers of care and specialist education for children and young people with complex needs, and members of the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU).
The work has focused on understanding the latest thinking and current trends within the sector, and developing an evidence base highlighting innovative work that is being implemented to deliver specialist needs-focused care and support for vulnerable young people.
By working in partnership the taskforce has been able to generate ideas for solutions and recommendations for improved working across the sector.
Read the full report
The work that Teachers and education staff at Rowden House School do to develop the independent skills of young people and to help them achieve has been highlighted and praised by Ofsted inspectors.
As part of the review the inspector spent two days observing lessons to focus on specific aspects of students’ learning. Discussions were also held with parents and representatives of local authorities. Student’s views were canvassed through the results of recent class discussions.
Although most students have had long periods of time out of education the Inspectors commented that from their starting point’s they make good and sometimes outstanding progress in their communication, literacy and numeracy skills. This progress is confirmed by national data.
Students also have the opportunity to complete nationally accredited courses that help them prepare for life in the community and strong behaviour management plans which enables them to manage their own behaviour as they settle into the school routine and start to experience success.
The schools Sixth Form was also praised for preparing students for the next stage of their lives.
Read the report in full
‘Young people make considerable progress whilst being at the home’
Ofsted visited the schools care provision in October 2014 and gave the setting an overall Good rating with Outstanding features in ‘Outcomes for Young People’ and ‘Leadership and Management’.
The homes are led by Kim Ames, who has been the Registered Manager for the past three years. Kim has recently completed a secondment within a Local Authority in which she worked with placement teams to understand the placement process and work with social workers to improve the quality of the paperwork being sent when placing a young person.
Inspectors commented how this experience has led to the school working successfully with Local Authority Placement Officers and Social Workers to get more detailed referrals paperwork leading to a greater depth of knowledge of the young people for the staff team.
The report highlighted that the high awareness of staff of the differing needs of the young people means that young people make considerable progress.
Inspectors praised the homes ability to develop young people’s awareness of: being healthy, involving young people in consultation about their home and activities, maintaining contact with family and transition processes.
In line with the new government SEN reforms which came into effect in September, local authorities now have to produce a directory of services which are available for children, young people and their families. This is called the ‘Local Offer’. The aim of the Local Offer is to make services much more accessible and to give greater choice to families.
In line with this each specialist school within the SENAD Group now have their own Local Offer document which answers questions that are most asked by parents when looking for a specialist school.
Click here to view our Local Offers
For more information about the SEN reforms please click here to be taken to the Department for Education Guide for Parents.
If you have any questions about the reforms and what they mean for you and your family please call us on 01332 378 840
Children’s minister Edward Timpson and health minister Dr Dan Poulter have written to teachers, colleges, local authorities and parents about the SEND reforms, describing the changes the Department for Education is introducing in September 2014 to improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Read the letters here
One Nine Five, the SENAD Groups newest transitional home for adults with specialist support needs, is holding an open day on Thursday 5th June between 10am and 2pm.
Potential residents, parents, carers and professionals are invited to pop in at anytime over the four hours to meet the Manager, Gemma Whiting, take a look round the high quality accomodation, get a feel for the local community and discuss their specific requirements.
To confirm your attendence please call 01332 378840
More information about One Nine Five
