Access School, based at Holbrook Villa Farm, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Midlands Region ARC Alex Timpson Award in recognition of its work with in helping pupils adapt and learn to their educational setting, particularly those children who may have suffered trauma earlier in their life.

The school, part of the Family Care Group, which provides fostering, educational and care services for young people across Shropshire, specialises in meeting Special Needs Educational requirements for young people aged from 6 years to 16 years.

The school site has been converted from a working farm to provide a rural setting which is calming and therapeutic for pupils, particularly those who may have struggled in a mainstream school setting previously.

The ARC (Attachment Research Community) award is given to one school in each region of the country, which in the view of the judges has made the most significant steps forward in improving the learning experience for its pupils and improving practice for trauma awareness amongst its staff.

Among the measures put in place by Access School are:

• Specialised training for all staff in Secure Base and trauma informed working, delivered by an experienced team of therapists on site

• The introduction of Fabulous Spaces which provides areas of interaction for staff with the pupils ensuring they are surrounded by trusting adults in a safe space

• Animal care and land-based studying which allows pupils to develop empathy through caring for living things.

Access school is also currently working to transform itself into an officially recognised ARC training hub, which will enable it to provide training to local sites to deliver Trauma Informed Practice.

The regional award nomination follows success for the school last year when it was awarded Gold status by ARC for its outstanding work with children with special educational needs.

Sarah Earing, Head Teacher at Access School, said:

“Understanding past trauma and the way it can have an impact on a young person in school is so important. So for us at Access it has become a fundamental part of our approach to teaching here."

“If we can make a positive impact with the way we teach and work with pupils, help to develop their confidence more and allow them to reach their full potential then we are definitely succeeding.”

Sarah adds:

“For this reason we are now also working to be become recognised as an official training hub for trauma linked teaching. This will hopefully enable to us to transfer our knowledge and experience to other local schools in the Shropshire area.”

For more details on the Arc Alex Timpson regional awards click here: Learn more about how to become a foster carer here:

Photo Captions: 

Photo 1: Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator Sumer Jones and Therapeutic Practitioner Laura Watton from Access School

Photo 2:   Sarah Earing, Head Teacher at Access School