An overview of the latest developments at the Hesley Group schools and colleges for young people with special needs:

Community Solutions – an extension of Hesley provision for adults

Community Solutions is getting ready for the opening of its first house for adults, located within the community. The six-bedroom house is due to be opened on June 1st and will provide a unique opportunity for its residents to live with a greater level of independence and local contact. Anil Mistry, head of Community Solutions, which provides supported independent living for adults with complex and severe learning difficulties, says: “They will be able to function as members of the wider society for the first time in their lives.”

The house is based in the centre of the small town of Thorne, 11 miles from Doncaster, and has easy access to shops and the railway station. The house was originally an old doctor’s house and surgery in its own spacious garden. Now it is being equipped with six en-suite bedrooms.

The Hesley Group already owns two schools and two colleges in the north of England, but this is the first of its properties situated in the heart of the wider community. Anil adds: “We would like to emphasise that the house is an extension to the existing provision that we run. We are very enthusiastic about the project and are looking forward to extending the work already done.”

Independent living – more houses being built at Hesley Village & College

Hesley Village & College’s ongoing project to provide independent accommodation for young adults with complex and severe learning difficulties is well under way and accommodation for eight more young people is the latest in this exciting development. The properties – a three-bedroom house with a one-bedroom attached bungalow, and a block of four one-bedroom self-contained flats - will be completed soon. These will be situated in the new Village Green housing complex, close to the exciting new lifestyle and shopping complex, called the Village Centre.

Sue Ekins, head of Hesley Village & College, says: “The new houses will provide a fresh start in top class accommodation in lovely surroundings. But the Village Centre will make the most difference to people’s lives here. It will improve things dramatically.”

The Village Centre is due for completion at the end of 2003 and will have all of the amenities that a community needs, including a café, internet café, pub, bakery, grocery store, bank, clothes shop and medical surgery.

The combination of independent accommodation and a nearby community of shops will give the villagers choice and involvement in their daily lives. Many of the residents already participate in the wider community, but the new ‘practice village’ will enable them to practice many daily tasks and will better equip them to be successful in their lives beyond the village.

Sue Ekins says: “It will be very useful to have shops here so the villagers can practice all the things involved in shopping – such as choosing clothes and food. They will also be able to decide whether to cook in their own homes or whether to eat in the café. And there will be greater opportunities for work experience.”

Woodland View is the most recently completed housing complex and the residents moved in last Autumn. It has been a tremendous success and the residents’ parents are delighted. Those who are now living in their own individual flats are really enjoying it. Sue says: “It has worked very well and has made a considerable difference to their lives – they look very happy, and are surrounded by things that interest them.”

Broughton on the move

Martin and Gareth were the first students to move into Broughton House College’s new four-bedroom house at No 12 High Street, Brant Broughton, on February 1st. Bob Noble, head of Broughton, has already declared the project a success: “We can see the residents are really pleased - they are joining in with life and have smiles on their faces.”

The young men, aged 26 and 27, were due to leave Broughton to live in a multi-age residential home where the staff ratio is lower than within the Hesley Group. Instead they were able to move into their own house and have one-to-one staff support.

Bob says: “The first few weeks have gone really well and the young men have enjoyed moving in. They have settled extremely well and are enjoying more independence in a domestic living environment. They can access village transport and can look after their own domestic chores such as washing and shopping.”

The detached house, situated just opposite the College, has its own large garden and provides a safe environment for the students. Some adaptations have been made and each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom.

The house is intended to ease the students through the change of leaving the college and going to live in the wider community. Bob says: “We are looking to expand this project further. We believe students should live within the community but at the beginning they still need staff support.”

New classroom block for Grateley House School

Building work has just started on the first phase of a new classroom building for Grateley House School, a school for students with Asperger Syndrome and related syndromes. Staff and pupils at the school are said to be very excited and can’t wait to use the new classrooms, which will be in use from June, and will enable them to study in a modern environment. The first phase comprises two general class bases, a new science classroom and new toilet facilities.

Martin Sheridan is the Hesley Group’s Estates and Facilities Manager and he says that the aim is to provide a truly modern and comfortable learning space for the 11 to 16 year-olds who attend Grateley House. He says: “We are trying to build in the latest technology such as computer points and Smartboards, and the science room will be fully fitted out and equipped to deliver the full curriculum.” At the moment the students are being taught in modular classroom buildings, which are nearing the end of their useful lives.

Meanwhile the second phase of the building project is already being planned and work is likely to start next year. This will be a continuation of the new building, which will provide space for a craft, design and technology classroom, an art room, a further general classroom and a library. The new building and the assembly hall will form a space that will be developed into a courtyard area and be a focal point for the education provision at Grateley.

Purbeck drops anchor

Many of Purbeck View School’s buildings have a sea theme with nautical names and marine murals. The latest building is no different. The Anchorage is the name chosen by one of the school’s 16-year-old students for the new residential unit on the school premises. The building, faced with local Purbeck stone, comprises two houses that each accommodates four students, with a shared entrance lobby connecting the two houses.

The accommodation is furnished with many comfortable features such as under-floor heating, in-built ceiling lights and spacious lobbies and corridors. Staff at the school are particularly happy that these features will provide a spacious yet secure and safe environment in which the students will feel totally at home.

At the time of writing, just after Easter, students are busy preparing to move into their new home at The Anchorage.