New school opens for children with complex needs

Options Trent Acres based in Kings Bromley, Staffordshire, are pleased to announce the opening of their new co-educational specialist school for children aged 8 to 18 years old.

Established by Options Autism and part of Outcomes First Group, the 30 place school will be providing education to children with complex needs including Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD and impaired social and cognitive functioning due to early life trauma.

Trent Acres will specialise in offering a person-centred, outcomes focused approach that is designed to encourage young people, who may have previously struggled within educational settings, to exercise choice and control and to engage positively in school life.

A diverse curriculum for both primary and secondary will promote educational experiences that reach beyond the classroom and support the students to develop social, communication and life skills. In addition, a high staff to student ratio and a specialised team of clinicians will give every student the support and guidance needed to strive and succeed.

The “classrooms are bright and welcoming” (Ofsted Dec 2017), with quiet areas to retreat to, allowing teaching staff to manage a variety of different behavioural needs. The school places particular value on teaching students vital skills useful for employment and life beyond, such as domestic science, horticulture, animal husbandry and independent living skills.

Set within a 12 acre site, there are an extensive range of extra-curricular activities for the students to benefit from including the schools indoor and outdoor equestrian arena, an outdoor gym, tennis court, swings, trampolines, a games area and a variety of animals to learn about and care for including alpacas, chickens, rabbits, goats, donkeys and horses.

Mel Callaghan Lewis, Head Teacher at Options Trent Acres, commented: “Our new school will be incredibly beneficial to the community as well as the people that we support and we look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength.

“The school is situated in a beautiful location and we are proud to be able to offer so many facilities that will support our young people to learn new skills that foster creativity and spark excitement, whilst also keeping them engaged with the outdoors.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming students through our doors and supporting them to develop into confident and happy individuals.”

Outcomes First Group is a leading specialist provider of education and care services and operates a national network of award-winning DfE registered special schools and therapeutic care homes.

To learn more about Options Trent Acres School, please visit the website www.optionsautism.co.uk/school_home/options-trent-acres or call 01543 473772.