Mill School Bury, part of the Kedleston Group, will support children and young people with autism and social, emotional or mental health difficulties. Kedleston operates specialist residential and day schools, along with children’s homes, across the UK. It has completed its 13th birthday celebrations by opening its 13th provision in Mill School Bury.
Based in Bury’s Wellington Street, the school will support up to 35 pupils across Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 including those who mainstream schools have not been able to meet their educational needs.
The school recently received registration from Ofsted and the Department of Education. As it will support children who are vulnerable and those with an education health care plan, the school will be able to support children immediately even if restrictions placed by the Government on schools being allowed to open are not relaxed by June.
Headteacher Shazia Sarwar-Azim, who has more than 15 years’ experience in leaderships roles in education, said: “We are delighted to be officially registered and are very excited about welcoming our first young people.
“Mill School Bury will provide a small and specialist learning environment where the curriculum is designed for pupils, with input from pupils, and which reflects their interests. This increases their chances of success.
“Creating these individual curriculums increases the engagement of young people and offers the opportunity to achieve meaningful qualifications which will set them up for further education, training or employment. These creative curriculums can also help improve attendance, behaviour and progress.
“The school and what we offer will really offer a passport to success.”
The specially-designed and state-of-the-art learning environment which will offer a calm and welcoming environment which will support the needs of the young people learning there. It will include two multi-sensory rooms, a Forest School and other outdoor learning environments.
To support the needs of children with an autism spectrum condition, these enabling environments will see the use of muted colour schemes, specialist lighting, individual work stations and visual communication. There will be outdoor horticultural areas where, as well as horticultural activities, pupils can also engage in science lessons.
Shazia added: “There are some real innovations within the building. It features a therapeutic trampoline for rebound therapy, an Immersive Reality Room (IRR) which works with smells and other sensory elements. The IRR is designed to help children deal with any phobias or anxieties they may have.
“Each Key Stage group will have their own areas both within and outside the building, creating three schools within the school.”
The school will also foster close relationships with Bury College and offer a range of vocational opportunities for students in Key Stage 4 and which will be led by their interests.
Shazia added: “The school is a truly holistic environment which supports children on an individual basis. We want to build strong relationships across the local community and offer the best possible outcomes for our young people.”