Flourish at Notre Dame Catholic College has been shortlisted for one of the most prestigious national awards in the Education sector.
TES (formerly the Times Education Supplement) Awards have shortlisted the Flourish Team at Notre Dame Catholic College for the SEND Provision in a Mainstream Setting of the Year.
Flourish at Notre Dame Catholic College is currently the only Enhanced Resource Based provision offered within a mainstream setting in the city of Liverpool. This is providing specialist Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) education within a mainstream school setting for students who have an Educational and Health Care Plan (EHCP) in place. It essentially bridges the gap for students who may fall through the gaps of not being fully ready to enter a mainstream school setting independently but are also not meeting the criteria to enter a specialist school.
The Flourish class at Notre Dame Catholic College currently have 8 students on roll, all of whom have an EHCP plan in place, difficulties in social communication and interaction and a diagnosis of Autism. They benefit from special school expertise practice within a mainstream school meaning this is combined with opportunities to reach mainstream subject specialism, facilities and the opportunity to build life skills within a structured and supportive environment.
Considered as one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the education sector, the TES Awards ceremony will take place on Friday 17th June at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London where the winners of the SEND Provision in a Mainstream Setting of the Year will be announced.
Mr McVerry, Assistant Head Teacher and SENCO Lead at Notre Dame Catholic College, will be representing the college at the awards alongside members of his team. He said: “We are delighted to have received this recognition for the work we do through Flourish. Students within our Flourish programme are taught to the same Key Stage 3 curriculum as all our students scaffolded to support their needs within their own specialist classroom environment, surrounded by highly trained specialist staff. They have access to a sensory room, opportunities to have specialist teaching in subjects such as Music, Science, P.E and use the local area to build upon core life skills such as going on shopping trips to the local area of Great Homer Street.”
Flourish will be welcoming a second class to the college from September 2022 with another group of 10 students starting in Year 7, with an additional 4 members of specialist staff joining the Flourish Team to meet their needs. Whilst Flourish enhanced provision falls under the leadership and governance of Notre Dame Catholic College, it is a service that is commissioned and funded by the local authority, therefore admissions for Flourish are controlled and led by the local authority’s SEND team.
Headteacher of Notre Dame Catholic College, Mr Duffy, said, “We are all so proud of all the staff and students within our Flourish programme and this award is well deserved recognition and a great celebration of the incredible work they do, and will continue to do to ensure young people are able to access the education they deserve. We are excited to continue developing and growing our Flourish programme and continue to lead the way SEND provision is offered within a mainstream setting.”
