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.

Pastoral Offer

The Sullivan Centre is committed to supporting children who are experiencing medical and mental health challenges.

The highly experienced and trained staff team offer a range of pastoral and wellbeing services designed to support the children in their care.

The pastoral and wellbeing team at The Sullivan Centre comprises of different roles such as life coaches, therapists, counsellors, and other mental health professionals.

Life coaches work with the children to identify their goals and help them achieve their full potential. Therapists provide counselling services to help children overcome emotional and psychological challenges. Counsellors offer support and guidance to children who are experiencing difficulties in their personal lives.

The Sullivan Centre is supported the school Nursing team, holding regular sessions and training within our settings.

Therapeutic activities

In addition to traditional counselling services, The Sullivan Centre provides a range of therapeutic activities to help children on their journey to recovery. These activities include art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy, aromatherapy and others. These therapies are designed to provide a holistic approach to healing, addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the children’s wellbeing.

Progress and Executive Functioning Skills

The Sullivan Centre takes a comprehensive approach to mental health support. Each child receives an intensive report that is updated regularly to track their progress. The report contains details of the child’s mental health history, the challenges they face, and the progress they have made. This report is used by the pastoral and wellbeing team to develop a personalised support plan for each child.

The Sullivan Centre places a strong emphasis on personal development. They offer a range of programmes designed to help children develop Executive Functioning skills. These skills are essential for success in school and in life. The programmes focus on developing skills such as time management, organisation, planning, and problem-solving.

The Sullivan Centre’s commitment to the wellbeing of the children in their care is evident in their approach to mental and medical health support and is evident in the impact that the Sullivan team has on our students’ lives.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) is a self-care focussed programme over 10 weeks for young people aged 5 – 19. Targeted children at The Sullivan Centre participate in WRAP® sessions led by our own trained WRAP® leaders. WRAP® enables you to plan, in advance, what you can do to keep yourself emotionally ‘on track’ and build a foundation to support yourself to stay well. It helps you to work out what your resources are and to focus on things that you do well. It helps you to draw on things that are simple and safe to create significant change in your life. WRAP® supports a better understanding of what impacts your wellness and mental health. It provides opportunities to increase coping strategies, helping to prevent or decrease troubling feelings and behaviors. Additionally, WRAP® focuses on identifying key supporters who can assist when needed, boosting your confidence and teaching you how to bounce back from setbacks.

Parent/Carer WRAP sessions coming in 2024-25 – Watch this space!

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

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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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“Staff are successful in developing pupils’ independence.”

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

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

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

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

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

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“Teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding. “

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“Pupils receive high-quality careers advice.“

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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“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 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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“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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“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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“Governors provide excellent support and challenge to senior leaders “

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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