hello@ohs.uk
WHAT WE DO And HOW WE DO IT
Our teachers and therapists 'work as one'. We are specialists in education and therapy for pupils who have suffered adverse childhood experiences. These are known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that can have negative, lasting effects on physical and emotional health and well-being.ACEs, and include trauma and Children experience toxic stress as a result of strong, frequent, and/or repeated suffering without adequate support from an adult.toxic stress. We work with pupils aged 5 to 16 who have a range of social, emotional, mental health and learning needs.
- Pupils' safety always comes first.
- Our teachers and therapists 'work as one' to provide an innovative therapeutic curriculum.
- Our 'always positive' and 'structured but flexible' approaches improve pupils' behaviour and attitudes.
- We are committed, including as Stonewall Champions, to equality.
- Our leadership team - made up of exceptional teachers and therapists - is held to account by our expert governors.
OUR CURRICULUM
Mr Foster is our executive headteacherOur schools provide an ambitious curriculum, designed to give our pupils the knowledge and 'cultural capital' they need to succeed in modern London.
As well as getting the therapy they need, pupils study a range of national curriculum subjects. The curriculum is rich in opportunities to develop pupils socially, morally, culturally and emotionally.
OUR LATEST INSPECTION
- To say that staff know the pupils well, have high aspirations for them and are highly committed, is to understate the quality of the schools' work.
- The curriculum is well-thought-through and central to the success of teaching and learning over time.
- Pupils thrive in response to what is on offer, often achieving skills and qualifications that had not been thought possible.
- A calm and purposeful environment is evident on each site.
- Pupils trust and respect staff, and talk openly about their worries and successes.
OUR THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Emily Barlow is our therapy & trauma specialistOur seamless approach to therapy means that therapists and teachers 'work as one' to support pupils' social, emotional, behavioural and educational development.
We hold therapy and a therapeutic approach at the heart of everything we do, understanding that if pupils feel emotionally and mentally well, they are able to play and learn with interest and enthusiasm.
- Music
Music Therapy
Ben Blance is a music therapist and lead therapist at our Kennington site. Ben uses music and song writing to help pupils share their feelings and experiences. Aims of therapy might include relieving stress, problem solving, understanding emotions, increasing levels of self-confidence and improving relationships. In music therapy pupils can play a range of instruments, make recordings and share music by their favourite artists. - drama
DRAMATHERAPY
Louisa Webster is a drama therapist and is the lead therapist at our Vauxhall site. Dramatherapy uses creativity and the imagination to support feelings
. It can help pupils to understand different emotions and to build confidence. In these sessions pupils can share their thoughts and experiences in an safe way using role-play, storytelling, sand-play, lots of different objects, art materials, poetry and creative writing. - PLAY
PLAY THERAPY
Cecline Stonex is the lead therapist at our Walworth site and is a play therapist. Play therapy uses different ways of playin
g to help pupils develop confidence in talking to others. Play therapy sessions may include using sand, arts and crafts and a range of toys. Play therapy is a place where you can think about how you are feeling and share different experiences in a safe way. - Integrative
INTEGRATIVE THERAPY
Integrative therapy is child-led and pupils can choose different ways to share their thoughts and feelings that may include play, drama, music or art. Our therapists work with pupils in the classroom as well as offering therapy sessions in the therapy room. - Canine
Canine Therapy
We currently have 2 therapy dogs, Mabel and Paddy. Mabel is a young puppy and is the newest addition to our therapy team. Our therapy dogs spend time with our pupils. Pupils can read to the dogs, cuddle them, tell them how they are feeling and take turns in looking after them. Mabel especially likes cuddles and listening to pupils read! - SPEECH AND LANGUAGE
SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY
Bethan Thomas and Greg Travis are our speech and language therapists. They offer assessments with pupils to help us understand whether there are additional speech and language needs that we can better support in school. If additional needs have been identified a pupil may then be offered group therapy, 1:1 speech and language therapy and indirect therapeutic support, both in the classroom or in the therapy room. - OCCUPATIONAL
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Lenez Osman and Martha NíFhlatharta are our occupational therapists. Occupational therapy can help pupils with various needs including the need to
move around or difficulty sitting still. This, in turn, can help to build confidence, self-esteem and improve access to learning. Lenez and Martha will create plans to support the development of key skills needed for pupils to learn and complete everyday tasks. They work with pupils both in the classroom and in a specially set up therapy space. - EP
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
We offer educational psychology assessments to further support our pupils in accessing the learning environment. Our EP works alongside both therapists and teachers in order to assess our pupils' needs and to develop strategies to help them. They will also meet with families to discuss what they see at home and to offer additional support where needed.
KEEPING OUR PUPILS SAFE
Joanne Evans is our designated safeguarding lead
Pupils' safety always comes first, and is everybody's responsibility. Joanne Evans leads on keeping everybody safe. She is responsible for all aspects of safeguarding, child protection and health & safety.
We pay regard to statutory guidance, including the latest versions of these three key documents: