Today our
oldest son went on a school trip. Seems normal for most children, but this trip
is a special one. He has attended a specialist school for the last 3 years.
This is the 4th trip he has attended, as this is an annual trip
at this time of the year at his school Gloucester House. But this is the last
one.
I asked him
on the way to school this morning how he felt about that this is the last trip
“Well, this means that I have moved on and am ready for mainstream. We can
always visit New Forest as a family” was his answer. I’m sure he had some mixed
feelings which are sometimes hard to put into words. He has started to get used
to the idea of moving back to mainstream school full time after the summer
break, as he has already started taster sessions once a week.
They are
staying in the New Forest for 4 days, sharing lodges with children and staff
from Gloucester House. The trip has been planned down to the smallest detail by
school. Children have done their part of the planning, activities have been
discussed and code of conduct has been explained.
Over the
next 4 days all of the 13 children and 13 staff will do activities like
mountain biking, zip wire, yoga/mindfulness, kayaking, canoeing, bush craft and
swimming. This is great way to build friendships between the children, but also
to build a stronger bond between the children and the teachers. I am very
impressed with all the passion from the staff and all the effort they
show.
For the last
3 years Gloucester House has been our saviour. Back in 2013 we were almost at
breaking point as a family, as the current mainstream school wasn’t able to
manage our oldest son, then aged 8. They asked us to keep him at home for 2
days a week. In addition he was excluded most of the three other days, or was
asked to be picked up early. When he started at Gloucester House we felt that
finally someone had an understanding of what we were going through as a family and
they were able to help both our son and us.
I’m sure
that they all will have a fantastic time in the New Forest with lots of great
memories. For many of the children, this would have been the first time away
from home. At home the house feels empty without him, and also when his two
other brothers are arguing and bickering, I’m missing him!
We are a leading
independent special school with a fully integrated specialist clinical team
located in a large Victorian house in Hampstead. Although we are in a separate
building, we are part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service of the
Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. For over 40 years Gloucester House
has pioneered therapeutic educational work with children. We are a very small
school working with up to 21 children aged between 5-14 (Ks 1, 2 & 3).
Gloucester House
provides a model of good practice that fits the new Education, Health and Care
Plans. Therapists, specialist nurses and education staff work closely together
to support the learning and development of children with social, emotional and mental
health difficulties, their families/carers and the professional network around
them.
Gloucester House is
warm and welcoming, friendly and purposeful. We believe that all children can
progress and achieve. We take great pride in our outcomes for children and
families. Developing children’s independence, resilience, progress in learning
and understanding of themselves is at the core of our vision.
We believe that the
children and families we work with benefit from therapeutic education provided
by clinicians and education staff working closely. We work with the children in
a variety of ways including individual work and group work.
At all times we try to
understand and learn from children and their families. We provide opportunities
for self-reflection as well as nurturing children’s self-esteem and positive
social relationships.
Enjoyment, excellence
and achievement are at the heart of our curriculum through which we aim to
develop a love of learning alongside core competencies in basic skills. We
provide a curriculum through which children of all abilities can learn through
a rich variety of experiences.
In our last Ofsted we
were awarded outstanding status.
We aim to provide
outstanding education and care that will prepare them for the next steps in their
future. We also hope that children and families who come here will enjoy their
time as well as learn from it and leave us with positive memories.
