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.

Our Curriculum Offer

Every pupil admitted to The Sullivan Centre has been on a unique educational journey. We are committed to being a positive and stabilising setting that bridges to continued education, whether that be to another mainstream school or a specialist setting. Students are with us for varying amounts of time: some individuals will have a very short time with us while others can remain in the provision longer.

Our curriculum therefore needs to be flexible, personalised and designed to enable pupils to progress to the next stage on their educational journey. Our aim is to provide a curriculum that enables each child to shine: to nurture their individual talents and raise aspirations.

The core purpose of our school is to enable pupils to access their entitlement to be educated in line with Article 28 of the UN Convention on the rights of a child

The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of its students through four distinct stages: Stabilisation, Engagement, Formal, and Transition. Students may find themselves at any of these stages and can move along the continuum in any direction, depending on their stage of recovery and individual needs.

The curriculum is designed to:

  • Re -engage all students as learners
  • Enhance the self – perception of students as learners
  • Inspire and motivate pupils, fostering a curiosity to learn
  • Enable all students to make progress from their individual starting points and to have success in learning underpinned by a focus on developing pupils’ social development, emotional wellbeing and mental health
  • Focus on developing students’s social, emotional and mental health
  • Have a strong curriculum focus on the facilitating subjects of Reading, English and Mathematics
  • Allow pupils to explore subjects beyond the core curriculum
  • Support all students to lead healthy and safe lifestyles
  • Support all students to develop the skills, behaviours and attitudes that will enable them to reintegrate to and be successful in the next phase of their education

In- depth understanding of attachment theory, child development and neuroscience underpins and informs all aspects of The Sullivan Centre. Using this evidenced based research and theory ensures the greatest outcomes for our learners (for both academic and personal development).

The principles that underpin our pedagogy and all curriculum learning are:

  • The relationships are key
  • Children’s learning is understood developmentally
  • The Sullivan Centre provides a symbolic secure base creating the sense of safety to enable pupils to explore and learn
  • All behaviour is communication
  • The importance of transition in children’s lives

The PSHE curriculum and embedded British Values & SMSC will ensure that The Sullivan Centre fulfils all our statutory obligations under equality legislation.

Planning the Curriculum

All teachers use the ‘Planning Overview’ before they begin to plan teaching and learning. Ensuring that all aspects of a child’s needs are considered from the very beginning; starting from their EHCP, or their Support Plan and including their Individual Health Care Plans.

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

Ofsted

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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“Pupils receive high-quality careers advice.“

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

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“Staff are successful in developing pupils’ independence.”

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

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

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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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“Teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding. “

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

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

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

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

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

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“Governors provide excellent support and challenge to senior leaders “

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

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

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

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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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“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.”

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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.“

Ofsted

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

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

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

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

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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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