BRAND-NEW purpose-built state-of-the-art specialist school Mill School Bury welcomed a VIP visitor today.
Mill School Bury, which opened last month, supports children and young people with autism and social, emotional or mental health difficulties. It is the 13th provision opened by Kedleston Group, which operates specialist residential and day schools, along with children’s homes, across the UK.
The school, based in Wellington Street, welcomed The Worshipful The Mayor Councillor Tim Pickstone as a VIP visitor and he enjoyed a grand tour of the school’s extensive facilities. The school provides a specialist learning environment with a range of different indoor and outdoor areas which are specially designed to be therapeutically and educationally beneficial.
At capacity, Mill School Bury will be able to support up to 50 young people across Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, including children who have not been able to have their needs met in mainstream schools.
Headteacher Shazia Sarwar-Azim said: “We were thrilled to welcome The Mayor as our VIP guest and to be able to show him all of the fantastic facilities we have here. The children and staff very much enjoyed meeting him and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back for a more extensive grand opening we have planned for later in the year.
“It’s a very exciting time for everyone involved with Mill School Bury and we can’t wait to welcome more children and young people over the coming days and weeks.”
The school creates individual curriculums which help young people achieve meaningful qualifications to set them up for further education, training or employment. These creative curriculums can also help improve attendance, behaviour and progress.
The specially-designed and state-of-the-art learning environment is calm and welcoming and includes two sensory rooms – one based on light, the other on sound – as well as a Forest School and other outdoor learning spaces.
To support the needs of children with an autism spectrum condition, enabling environments use muted colour schemes, specialist lighting, individual work stations and visual communication. There are also outdoor horticultural areas where, as well as horticultural activities, pupils can engage in science lessons.
The school also features a rebound area for therapeutic trampolines, a 360-degree ICT room which works with smells and other sensory elements and a room which can be varied depending on a child’s needs – helping them deal with any phobias or anxieties they may have.
Kedleston Chief Executive Paul Brosnan said: “Mill School Bury is our 13th provision, and was completed during the year of our 13th birthday celebrations. It opened during COVID-19, and staff have done a fantastic job in supporting the young people, and their families, into a new school during what has been a challenging time.”