Reach Academy delivers full time education for Key Stage 3 pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The route of admission is consultation, in line with the Code of Practice. Until December 2023, the academy also delivers full time education for pupils who have been excluded from their mainstream school, to provide intensive intervention to support individual needs and support a positive reintegration into their next setting.
At Reach Academy, we firmly believe that all pupils deserve the opportunity to be supported in their re-engagement with learning and school life through a stimulating, safe and welcoming environment where the curriculum is personalised to meet the differing needs and interests of all pupils. Our highly trained staff pride themselves on offering a nurture based approach and educational offer that supports pupils and their families to ensure they achieve positive outcomes and are ready to move onto further success in their next educational setting.
Our curriculum is designed to support pupils academic and SEMH needs through a broad and balanced offer. Pupils access core and non-core subjects in line with the National Curriculum alongside lessons and personalised interventions to support pupils’ personal development and specific SEMHD and learning needs. Weekly cooking sessions, health and fitness sessions and community projects are also planned to develop pupils’ life skills and their ability to be responsible citizens within the school community and their wider communities.
Throughout the year, staff plan a range of enrichment days and activities linked to the work of charities, national theme days/weeks, staff and pupil interests and local events to broaden pupils’ horizons and provide them with opportunities and experiences that may otherwise not be available to our pupils.
Staff work alongside a wealth of outside agencies and key professionals to ensure pupils’ needs are fully identified and addressed. Parental engagement is also vital to the work that we do and staff maintain regular contact with parents/carers to work in partnership to ensure pupil placements at Reach Academy are successful and support a positive transition to their next educational setting.
We are committed to the promotion of inclusive support, raising standards for children with SEMHD and improving their life chances. The academy values the abilities and achievements of all its pupils and celebrates success at different levels through our whole school rewards programme that complements our systems for positive behaviour and learning expectations.
In February 2023, Reach Academy was awarded a Good judgement by Ofsted. In April 2023, the school retained Flagship Status for the Inclusion Quality Mark, Centre of Excellence, in recognition of the inclusive work conducted by all stakeholders to support pupils with wide-ranging and often complex SEMHD.
