At Queenswood School, we take great pride in the services that we provide to children and young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties, an autistic spectrum condition (ASC) and a range of additional needs. Our aim is to always make a difference to their lives and enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes.
We are delighted to introduce you to our latest case studies, showcasing a selection of the many success stories at Queenswood School
John's story
When John* arrived at Queenswood School, he had been out of education for quite some time. Before this, he had been permanently excluded from school and was making some poor decisions in his local community.
For John, being able to transition back into a school environment was always going to be challenging given his past experiences of education. This coupled with a lack of understanding around his own difficulties meant that when he joined Queenswood School, John was behaving in a way that put himself and others at risk. Physical interventions were needed to keep him and others safe.
The staff at Queenswood School focused on providing John with the support he so desperately needed. A learning mentor began to work with John on a one-to-one basis. His learning was delivered off-site, close to his home and community, with regular keep-in touch days at school. The curriculum was specially adapted to better meet John’s needs and this included an increased focus on enrichment and activities that would engage John, including access to a gym and a qualified boxing instructor. Staff took a therapeutic approach, working in partnership with John to become better attuned to how he was feeling.
To fully understand John and his specific needs, the school commissioned a psychiatric assessment which diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was attributed to the complex trauma that he had suffered as young boy. For John, the diagnosis meant that he was able to better accept himself and understand that what he had experienced during childhood had negatively impacted his social, emotional and mental health needs. The school worked with John to ensure that he knew that his education was taking place in a safe environment, and that it would remain personalised to support him in his aspirations.
Achieving positive outcomes
Since implementing these interventions at Queenswood School, the change in John and his behaviour has been dramatic. In the 2017/18 academic year, there were 28 negative incidents involving John, 10 of which were significant. In 2018/2019, this had reduced to a single negative incident.
Over the last three and half years, John has managed to successfully transition into school and sit his examinations. He has also secured a placement onto his chosen college course and is considering applying for an apprenticeship.
Liam's story
“My name is Liam* and I had very complex behaviours and challenges, which previously resulted in many incidents with sta ff and members of the public. Before I arrived at Queenswood School, I also had multiple placement breakdowns in private schools, as well as other residential settings.
Through working closely with me, the school staff team at Queenswood School were able to significantly reduce the number of incidents I had. When I left the school, I went on to work with the police and dog handling. This has been an amazing turnaround for me and I thank Queenswood School for all of the support that they gave me.”
*Names have been changed to protect the individuals’ identity