Since it opened in 2018, ‘outstanding’ graded specialist provision New Ways School in Kings Norton, Birmingham, has consistently gone above and beyond to make sure it meets pupils’ individual needs. The school supports children with special educational needs and those who are autistic from all over the local area. The children have experienced a range of difficulties and challenges throughout their lives. Most have highly disrupted educations … [Read more...]

Awards nominations, being a strong self-advocate and presenting to leading figures in social care in Wales – David* certainly achieved some fantastic outcomes. He has certainly come a long way. At one, point the complex challenges he experienced resulted in him having to be supported by children services staff during a hospital admission and him requiring 2-1 support when he arrived at Nant View, a residential children’s home which is part of … [Read more...]

A YOUNG man whose anxiety and trauma meant he wouldn’t eat in front of others and wouldn’t use the toilet is, after support from the team at Millhouse residential children’s home, about to move to semi-independent living and has just taken his GCSEs after making remarkable progress. Anthony came to the home experiencing significant attachment difficulties and his levels of anxiety were so high, he would only speak to certain members of staff … [Read more...]

A MERSEYSIDE specialist school has taken its next step to becoming a mental health champions learning environment. Liverpool Progressive School is part of Keys and has just been awarded a plaque as an official partner school for “Healthy Heads”. Mental health and well-being have long been important subjects for students at the school. When they had the opportunity to meet their local MP virtually during COVID-19 for example, their questions … [Read more...]

LUCA was 11 when, following the breakdown of a foster home placement, he arrived at Millhouse, which is a residential children’s home graded outstanding by Ofsted. At first he experienced significant challenges; he would assault staff, was aggressive and to keep him safe, the team had to support using physical intervention every day. He had previously experienced significant neglect,  and the different ‘solutions’ put in place for him broke … [Read more...]

The progress and positive change experienced by a young person supported at Millhouse residential children’s home has been described as ‘magical’ by a social worker. Joe* had experienced significant neglect at home among which he been left to his own devices and had struck up inappropriate conversations and relationships with some of those he met while on-line gaming, putting him at real risk. From the first day of moving to Millhouse the … [Read more...]

ENZO, a young person supported by Keys, is using their experience and their voice to help inform the care offered to looked after young people The young person identifies as non-binary. This was not something Enzo felt they could discuss with their family because of their very strong religious faith. An attempt to confide in an elder in their community failed and this young person was badly bullied at school. Eventually, given the … [Read more...]

A CARE worker’s fight against cancer has inspired a group of young people to raise more than £1,300 for charity. Young people who live at Fairholme, a residential children’s home in Wisbech which is part of Keys, decided to raise funds in aid of prostate cancer research after learning a much loved staff member was battling the disease. Matthew Battson, has been a Senior Support Worker at Fairholme for more than 10 years. When the three … [Read more...]