Open day for new special school provision planned for March
Two highly experienced secondary school teachers are launching a special school in March to cater for children who struggle in mainstream education.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) Sage Education Provision in Longhill Road is holding an open day for people to have a look around the premises and meet the women behind it, Gemma Fulcher and Sarah Amor.
Their initiative comes just weeks after a similar one, The Walnut Tree School, was announced for a site in Wisbech, also being launched by qualified teachers.
Gemma is Sage Education’s provisions director and is a qualified teacher, having taught science for nearly two decades in secondary schools.
She has most recently been a vice principal for teaching and learning at the Cromwell Community College in Chatteris.
Gemma has a passion for teaching pupils with special educational needs.
With her years of experience in education Gemma fully understands the difficulties faced by families whose children find attending mainstream school challenging.
She said: “Setting up this unique provision to provide pupils with the support they need, whilst still ensuring they receive a quality education, which sets them up for the next chapter of their life has been a dream of mine for many years.”
Sarah is a qualified English teacher and is an experienced SEND coordinator.
She developed an on-site alternative provision unit at the school in which she worked, as well as becoming a qualified Nurture practitioner, leading to the creation of a secondary Boxall Nurture Group.
Sarah is particularly interested in alternative education programs that have a life skills link and has taught a range of courses within the ASDAN suite. ASDAN provides programmes and qualifications for learners with special educational needs and disabilities.
Sarah and Gemma say on the Sage Education Provision website that their goal is to “Our goal is to deliver high-quality, personalised education for pupils experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) who may be struggling to attend a mainstream school setting due to anxiety or medical needs”.
They say: “Through tailored support, we aim to enhance pupils' knowledge of themselves, ultimately enabling them to overcome barriers to education and thrive academically and emotionally.”
Wednesday’s open day is at 19c Longhill Road, March from 1pm onwards, there is no need to book and children are welcome to attend.
