020 3651 4396
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 5–17 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.
KEEPING OUR PUPILS SAFE
Joanne Evans leads on keeping everybody safe
Pupils' safety always comes first, and is everybody's responsibility. Joanne Evans is the most senior point of contact across our schools. She oversees all aspects of safety, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.
We follow the guidance in these three statutory documents:
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
Sarah Steadman leads on our therapeutic approachOur seamless approach to therapy means that therapists and teachers 'work as one' to support pupils' social, emotional, behavioural and educational development
We are proud to provide the following range of therapies...
- Music
Music Therapy
Jack Morgan is a music therapist at our Kennington site. Jack uses music to help pupils with their feelings. Aims of therapy might include relieving stress, understanding emotions, developing self-confidence and improving relationships. In music therapy pupils can play instruments, make recordings and share music by their favourite artists. - drama
DRAMA THERAPY
Louisa Webster is a drama therapist and is head of therapy at our Vauxhall site. Drama therapy 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
Tim Hudson is a play therapist. Play therapy uses different ways of playing 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 Therapy
INTEGRATIVE THERAPY
Georgia Gkertsou is head of therapy at our Walworth site and is a play therapist. Georgia may use different creative activities to help pupils share their feelings. Integrative therapy is child-led and pupils can choose different ways to share their thoughts and feelings that may include drama, music, art or play. Georgia works with pupils in the classroom as well as offering therapy sessions in the therapy room. - family
FAMILY THERAPY
Anna Wood works with families to help them receive additional support that may be needed or wanted. Anna uses Attachment-informed therapy which focuses on the relationships between people and the ways that we cope with different feelings. This includes offering a parent group, 1:1 meetings, phone conversations and creating plans to best support the whole family. - Canine
Canine Therapy
We have three therapy dogs, Paddy (pictured), Dougie and Cedric, who 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. Paddy especially likes to listen to pupils read to him! - Salt
SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY
Sian is our speech and language therapist. Sian may do assessments with pupils to help us understand whether there are additional speech and language needs that we can better support in school. Sian offers group and 1:1 speech and language therapy and may work with pupils in the classroom or in the therapy room. Sian can also offer advice for teachers and parents so that support can be offered by everybody both at school and at home. - OT
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
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 their confidence and self-esteem. Occupational therapists look at the skills needed for pupils to learn and complete everyday tasks. They assess the needs and then put a plan in place to help with any difficulties that the pupil may be experiencing. Occupational therapists may work with pupils both in the classroom and in the therapy room.
- EP
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Becky Hills is our educational psychologist. She works with both therapists and teachers in order to assess our pupils’ needs and to develop strategies to help them. Becky will also meet with families to discuss what they see at home and to offer additional support where needed. - camhs
CHILD & ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) offer assessment and treatment when pupils experience emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. We work very closely with CAMHS, including with their specialist psychiatrists and psychologists.
SUPPORT FOR OUR FAMILIES
Anna Wood leads on supporting our familiesOur support for families includes face-to-face therapy, our weekly support group, online support via our families portal and our hotline 020 3637 7481 for anything relating to parenting, safety and emergencies.
OUR CURRICULUM
Mr Foster leads on the quality of educationOur 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.