Ormiston launches specialist resource provision to support more children across the Borough

The opening of Freston Junction is part of Ormiston Academies Trust’s strong belief in the importance of inclusion and high-quality education for young people with special needs and disabilities, and is a commitment to supporting children whose needs are greatest.

Freston Junction will provide highly-sought after and specialist support for 12 children with autism and/or Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs with purposely designed educational spaces to help engage and support pupils in their learning.

As part of the launch event, attendees had a tour of the new site and heard from specialist staff how its tailored curriculum approaches and therapeutic support which will provide highly personalised learning experiences for each pupil’s individual needs and goals.

Freston Junction is completely unique to the local area, with no other Alternative Provision (AP) offering a similar setting and approach. It has been supported by investment from long-standing delivery partner, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC).

The resource base will provide an important addition to the borough’s education provision, helping to deliver wide-ranging educational opportunities for children who may not otherwise be able to access them, including those not able to attend school currently, are being home tutored or receiving expensive independent provision.

The opening of Freston Junction marks another very exciting and ambitious development for the Trust’s approach to inclusive education, having in June launched two Managed Intervention Centres (MIC) in Stoke and Lowestoft, in Suffolk, as part of a pilot programme with the Education Endowment Foundation.

Building on the successful and well-established practice of Ormiston’s three MICs in London, the new centres will provide early intervention support to selected students to help them fulfil their full potential.

The pilot schemes will be underpinned by personalised support including specialist frameworks to build students’ positive learning and behavioural habits, and an individual Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum, which have been shown to help students at risk of permanent exclusion to remain or complete their education in mainstream settings.

Together, Freston Junction and the newly-opened MIC settings will support the Trust’s commitment to delivering the best possible educational opportunities for young people, regardless of background or barriers.

Wasim Butt, Director of Alternative Provision and Special Academies at Ormiston Academies Trust, said: “Ormiston Academies Trust has always been committed to supporting students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential, and the bespoke provision available at Freston Junction is a core part of this.

“We are incredibly proud of what has been created with Freston Junction and we are ambitious about the immense potential it holds as a blue-print for more sustainable and effective support for children with complex needs. It was so lovely to welcome family, friends, and supporters to the launch and we look forward to working alongside one another to ensure all pupils are able to live fulfilling lives.”

Tom Rees, Chief Executive Officer of Ormiston Academies Trust, said: “We are very pleased to be launching Freston Junction, which builds on Ormiston’s specialist education provision and our commitment to providing the very best educational opportunities for all children. We’re really looking forward to seeing the hugely positive impact of this new provision for pupils and the local community, as well as its significant potential in helping to continually improve education practice both within our Trust, and within the local area.”

Councillor Catherine Faulks, Lead Member for Family and Childrens Services, said: “Working with passionate and knowledgeable partners, we have been able to help create a unique setting that is safe and welcoming to children and parents seeking additional support.

"Freston Junction is a fantastically innovative space that will provide specialist support for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.

"This Council is proud to have been able to support this project, with £350,000 of investment in our young people's futures, so they have an equal opportunity to learn and thrive for a fairer borough."