A BRAND-NEW specialist school supporting children with autism and associated needs is set to open in North London.
The team behind Silverways School, in Enfield, were this week delighted to mark the completion of building work on the site and the school’s Headteacher Jeanette Maynard now can’t wait to open the doors and welcome in the school’s first young people.
The school is part of the Kedleston Group which operates specialist residential and day schools, along with children’s homes, across the UK. Silverways will be its 14th provision. The school will support up to 50 pupils across Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 for whom mainstream schools have not been able to meet their special educational needs. The school’s interior and external facilities have been specifically designed to create the best possible learning environment for young people with autism.
Headteacher Jeanette said: “We are very excited about welcoming our first young people to Silverways. At Silverways we provide a small, nurturing environment where the curriculum is personalised to meet individual need so that pupils can actively engage with learning. Many of the children we support will have found mainstream education challenging, and in some circumstances traumatic, many will have significant gaps in their attendance.
“At Silverways we support children to re-engage with education by providing a safe, low arousal, enabling environment in which to learn. My team of outstanding teachers and support staff have a proven track record of successfully teaching children who struggle to cope in school and every aspect of the school has been carefully designed to best meet children’s sensory needs, making it an ideal setting for pupils with autism to thrive and flourish.”
To support the needs of children with an autism spectrum condition, the school has a muted colour scheme, specialist lighting, individual work stations and visual communication systems. This is an approach which has already proven successful across Kedleston’s other London-based specialist autism provisions; Brookways and the ARC at Leaways School.
Jeanette added: “At Silverways we value the holistic development of the child. Our aim is not only to educate, but to develop the children’s social skills, self-confidence, and resilience. Wellbeing is at the heart of school life and forms the basis of our aim of preparing young people for adulthood.”
“Kedleston is really experienced in creating schools that support positive outcomes for children and young people, whatever difficulties they may experience. It’s a real privilege to be create and lead Silverways school and I look forward to welcoming our first pupils next term.”
Interested in finding out how the school supports young people towards more successful futures? Why not speak to the team on 0800 024 6985 or [email protected]