Options Higford
Special needs catered for
Options Higford is a specialist service providing care and education for children and young people aged 8 – 19 with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC), associated complex needs and challenging behaviours. We are a DfE-registered school and Ofsted-registered children’s home, offering day and residential placements, with up to 52-week or 38-week (term-time) residential care provided (other bespoke placements can be arranged) within specially-adapted on-site accommodation.
Set in 28 acres of rolling Shropshire countryside, Higford provides a safe, homely environment for children and young people with ASC.
Specialist facilities
Our extensive grounds and innovative facilities provide children and young people with opportunities to safely exercise choice and control. We offer an exceptional range of activities and amenities designed to promote the development of life skills and apply learning across different situations.
These include: Classrooms designed specifically for young people with autism and Complex Needs, A ‘Sensory Hub’ made up of a range of different sensory rooms in which students can explore new sensory experiences and take control of their environments, including a water play room, wellbeing room, sensory room, health hub (incorporating sauna and gym equipment) and soft play room, A sports hall and ball-court for PE and sporting activities, A Bistro area for shared dining, Outdoor facilities including a sunken trampoline, playground, climbing frame, swings, Forest Schools Area and extensive grounds where students can engage in adventurous physical activity.
Support services provided
Options Higford is specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with autism, complex needs and associated learning disabilities as reflected in our multidisciplinary team, qualified staff, staff ratios, and purpose built specialist facilities.
Clinical support is led by the Head of Clinical Services and is delivered by a core team of clinicians to include Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Forensic Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech & Language Therapists.
Our team reflects the needs of the children, young people or adults that live and learn within the schools and or home, however additional support can also be accessed from other specialists within the wider Clinical Team. This enables us to be responsive to the newly identified, time limited or changing needs of an individual throughout their placement with us.
Home school links
Options Higford delivers an adapted and differentiated National Curriculum for Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 students, and a vocational-based curriculum for post-16 students. Teaching frameworks have been specially designed for children and young people with special needs. Options Barton promotes the use of a range of approaches including SPELL and TEACCH, which again are individually adapted to the needs of each student. Parents/carers play an essential role in the development and delivery of student’s individual programmes, and are considered as key members of the staff team.
Aims and philosophy
At Higford School we take a person-centred and outcomes focused approach to providing care and education that is designed to help each student exercise choice and control, increase their confidence and prepare for adulthood. We believe that education should be individually tailored and delivered in a variety of environments, with a curriculum that encourages the development of communication, social and life skills as well as academic achievement. Each student’s individual learning abilities, requirements and academic progression are consistently monitored to ensure that support remains proactive, learning opportunities are maximised and every individual achievement is celebrated.
Staff qualification and selection
At the Outcomes First Group we make a real commitment to training and developing our staff, which far exceeds regulatory required standards. Our training is focussed on the needs of the specific services as well as the individual employee and the company. We recognise that training, learning and developing our staff is key to delivering high quality services and to the success of our company.
Our commitment is to guarantee that all employees complete mandatory, refresher and specialist training and have the opportunity to undertake developmental training opportunities.
We offer BILD accredited behaviour support training relevant to the service which equips employees with the knowledge and skills to manage a broad range of behaviours to ensure everyone’s safety in the workplace.
Outcomes First Group is committed to meeting regulatory qualification requirements and timeframes to ensure a suitability qualified, knowledgeable and competent workforce.
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