The Sullivan Centre provides education for children and young people who cannot attend their usual school because of their medical or mental health needs.
A Venn Academy Trust School – Together we will… Venn is a pioneering academy trust, committed to building educational environments where all pupils are inspired to become lifelong learners who achieve the very highest standards possible. Collaborating with all partners, the Trust works with its unique settings to create world class learning experiences for all.

Inspire – Curriculum

Education at Inspire

The current statutory guidance because of health needs sets the expectation that local authorities should be ready to take responsibility for any child of compulsory school age whose illness will prevent them from attending school for 15 or more school days, either in one absence or over the course of a school year, and where suitable education is not otherwise being arranged.

Current guidance states that children and young people of compulsory school age with health needs should receive education which is equivalent to the education they would receive in school. This should be full-time unless evidence suggests judges that it is not in the child’s best interests because of their health needs.

Where full-time education would not be in the best interests of a particular child because of reasons relating to their physical or mental health, a bespoke educational package will be created in the child’s best interests. Full and part-time education should still aim to achieve good academic attainment particularly in English, Maths and Science.

What does education look like at Inspire

Our specialist staff begin to form relationships with the young people once admitted to Inspire. They work closely with the NHS staff to engage the inpatients back into education.

The aim is for all of the young people to attend one of the school rooms during school hours, to ensure they don’t fall behind with their education and to encourage a sense of normality during this challenging time.

Where appropriate pupils can be taught in small groups, but on the whole pupils have an individualised learning plan and teachers facilitate their progress. The school unit relies heavily on input from an inpatients’ home school. It is essential that the home school provide work and any specialist resources needed to complete such work. It is possible for teachers and/or the young person to keep in contact via the phone or email. Work sent by the home school is enhanced by the main Core Curriculum offered at The Sullivan Centre Classrooms. This specialist curriculum is also used whilst waiting for work to be sent from the home schools.

We aim to maintain regular contact with the mainstream school throughout this time and encourage mainstream schools to work in partnership with us.

Inspire School Day

Our specialist teachers are available to support the young people with their education during the school day.

The School Day Times
Education morning 10am-12pm
Education afternoon 1pm-3pm

“The curriculum provides pupils with a wide range of opportunities that match the needs and interests of pupils extremely well.“

Ofsted

“Senior leaders’ exemplary work to enhance pupils’ emotional well-being and personal development is highly effective”

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“Pupils use their knowledge and skills to apply their learning across the curriculum.”

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“Parents appreciate the communication and high levels of practical and emotional support the staff provide for them.“

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“The curriculum strongly supports the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, which is well embedded throughout the school.“

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“The school is exceptionally calm and ordered. Pupils behave very well in lessons and are enthusiastic learners.”

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“The school’s staff and the inclusion leader are exceptionally skilled in enabling pupils to manage their anxiety so that they can learn in a small classroom environment.”

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“Pupils display remarkable levels of empathy for others. They are highly sensitive and tremendously accepting of the needs of other pupils.”

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“Pupils receive high-quality careers advice.“

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“Pupils are enthusiastic learners who understand and appreciate the opportunities that the school is providing them with.“

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“The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding.”

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“Governors provide excellent support and challenge to senior leaders “

Ofsted

“The trust is extremely supportive and provides high levels of challenge and guidance to school leaders.“

Ofsted

“Highly effective teaching and assessment systems and strategies are in place which consider specific pupils’ needs.“

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“The inclusion lead and other members of staff are available throughout the day to support pupils who are finding things difficult.”

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“Lessons are calm, ordered and purposeful. This encouraging learning environment has a positive impact on the engagement of pupils.“

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“Teachers and other staff are highly skilled in ensuring that individual pupils’ needs are met in lessons.“

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“Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school and the difference it has made to their children.“

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“Behaviour during social times and in classrooms is outstanding.“

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“The coordinator for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities has a high level of knowledge and understanding.“

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“The trust uses the management structure of the school well to ensure that they are always informed and up to date with information about the school.“

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“Pupils overcome anxieties and, as a result, they are able to access their learning where they can make strong and sustained progress.“

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“Pupils have opportunities to gain a range of qualifications and accreditations, including English and mathematics at varying levels.“

Ofsted

“The vast majority of pupils become confident learners. Their developing ability to form extraordinarily strong relationships with staff and friendships with their peers is evident.”

Ofsted

“Leaders have ensured that the curriculum includes a wide range of subjects for pupils to study.”

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“In lessons, pupils quickly become absorbed in the variety of activities that staff design for them.“

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“At break and lunchtimes, pupils move quietly and sensibly around school. They are occupied during these times by playing physical games with staff or chatting with each other.”

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“Staff prepare high-quality and bespoke lessons which they use effectively to stimulate pupils’ interest in learning.“

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“Leaders provide pupils with high levels of intervention and professional support, which helps them to overcome their complex mental health and medical needs.“

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“The enormously positive relationships that exist between pupils and staff are key to the success of the pupils.”

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“Pupils’ starting points are assessed accurately. This enables teachers to plan highly engaging, motivating and personalised learning opportunities.“

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“Leaders take positive and immediate action should any issues arise to ensure the continuation of the very highquality learning that pupils receive.“

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“Staff are successful in developing pupils’ independence.”

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“Staff have very high expectations of themselves and their pupils.“

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“Staff provide a high level of emotional support when necessary while placing great importance on developing pupils’ independence skills.“

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“The school is a calm learning environment where staff encourage pupils to be the best they can be.“

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“Staff work extremely closely with external agencies and a range of medical professionals to ensure that each pupil receives the best advice and care possible.“

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“Staff receive highquality, regular training to enable them to meet the complex emotional and mental health needs of pupils.“

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“Teachers and staff are extremely ambitious for their pupils. They are determined to equip them with skills that will contribute to a happy and fulfilled life. “

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“Leaders responsible for inclusion, pastoral care and welfare are inspirational in their dedication, knowledge and actions to support pupils’ emotional health and well-being.“

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“Teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding. “

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“Lessons in all subjects and in classes across the school are engaging and motivating.“

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“Pupils are kind, caring and demonstrate mature levels of empathy to one another.“

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“Staff ensure that pupils who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan make strong progress towards achieving their objectives.“

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“Leaders provide a wide range of weekly enrichment activities for pupils.“

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“Staff plan further bespoke activities for individual pupils who may need support on specific areas of socialising and other life skills.“

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“School records show that bullying incidents rarely occur. Pupils and staff agreed with this view when asked.”

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“There is a culture of mutual respect at the school that supports pupils in developing their confidence and optimism for learning.”

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“Regular opportunities for pupils to work on their social and emotional skills are available. These include one-to-one sessions with specialist practitioners, enhanced life skills and practical social experiences.”

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“Pupils enjoy all aspects of the curriculum and quickly go into their classes when they arrive at school.“

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“The promotion and encouragement of independent learning can be seen in all classes and throughout the school.“

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“Leaders check the quality of teaching and learning regularly.“

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“Extra curricular activities include horse-riding, rock climbing, swimming and cooking.“

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“Work in books is very well presented and neat. Strong progress can be seen.”

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“Pupils are tremendously enthusiastic about learning. Where possible, they can speak at length about what they are learning and what they have already learned. “

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“The head of school is highly ambitious and determined for all pupils to be the best that they can be.”

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