An Ipswich school's Duke of Edinburgh Award programme specifically designed for pupils with complex and sensory needs has been nationally recognised for its ground-breaking approach.
Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy (TWOA) has gained acclaim from leading education organisations, including The Centre for Education and Youth and UK Youth, for their efforts in ensuring accessibility to transformative experiences like the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award.
Part of the Ormiston Academies Trust, the school supports students with highly complex physical and sensory needs.
The academy's DofE programme has been hailed for adapting opportunities to the pupils' unique needs.
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In collaboration with Ormiston, the academy has put together unique activities that promote skills and confidence, such as organising sleepovers away from home and handling a tuck shop to raise funds.
The DofE programme has been lauded for its vast benefits in helping pupils gain external experiences and foster future aspirations.
Additional tangible rewards have been noted among the families of the pupils.
The programme imparts a new set of skills and experiences that the pupils can utilise in their future progression.
Mike Tibbits, lead practitioner for enrichment at Ormiston Academies Trust, said: "It is so excellent for Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy to be recognised by this report as a leader in creating accessible and meaningful opportunities for all young people. "
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He added that the impact of the programme not only benefits the pupils but also sets a precedent for best practices in inclusive education.
Co-principals at TWOA, Emily Webster and Helen Dickenson, added: “We are so proud that TWOA, our amazing children, and exceptional colleagues have been recognised through this report.
"We are committed to ensuring all of our learners are able to develop the skills and confidence to lead a rich and rewarding life and to participate in wider society in genuine and meaningful ways – the immense amount of hard work and passion that has gone into creating this unique DofE programme is a clear example of this."
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