CHILDREN and staff are celebrating after being recognised nationally for attending a school on the move.
A special assembly was staged at The Dales School Morton-on-Swale, near Northallerton, to mark the awarding of the MOVE Quality Mark.
Children with complex needs have been benefiting for more than two years from the introduction of MOVE – Movement Opportunity Via Education.
Piloted in America, the initiative improves the quality of life for people with complex disabilities, their families and the professionals who care for them.
It aims to promote participation and encourage independence and dignity. For some children this means sitting in a chair or on a bench or walking representing a major achievement.
Staff, students and parents were joined by officials from MOVE for the special celebration that culminated in the cutting of a cake.
Principal Hanne Barton said: “We take the initiative and adapt it to personal learning for mums and dads, teachers and teaching assistants, with everyone working out the next step. It is about movement with purpose so the students are helped to walk, not just to practice but to get somewhere.
“We had a thorough inspection and I am absolutely thrilled that we have been awarded the Quality Mark.”
The inspection report, by assessor Sarah Riley, described provision at The Dales School as outstanding.
She said: “Students enjoy being at school and are well motivated by professional and caring staff. The focus on personalised learning supports all elements of the MOVE programme.”
The report said it was evident that commitment to the project by the leadership was transmitted to all staff with specific aims for the development of the programme given challenging but realistic timescales.
It highlighted the system being embedded into the daily life of the school with pupils showing exceptional progress.
It identified new parents being introduced to the scheme and a baseline assessment of pupils’ needs conducted, with targets set and reviewed. It praised new staff being inducted by a MOVE practitioner so they could begin supporting pupils immediately.
