Brookfields School has done it again!
On Tuesday 15th March, we were officially recognised as a MOVE Regional Centre of Excellence. The day based around music and dance was a fun filled event involving over 70 special guests, parents as well as pupils from 5 special and mainstream schools from across Berkshire. We were thrilled to have Barbara Alexander, West Berkshire's Executive Councillor for Education and Councillor Gul Khan The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Reading visit us. Peter Holland, Chief Executive for MOVE Europe, several MOVE Trustees and Nigel Carter, MOVE Development Officer and Concita Garcia were there to offer their support and encouragement as they have always done. There were activities involving Morris Men, Beatroots drummers, a choreographer as well as our own Interactive Theatre.
As a Regional Centre of Excellence, Brookfields is now at the hub leading the development of MOVE across West Berkshire. The MOVE Development Agreement between the West Berkshire Local Authority and MOVE Europe we signed by Barbara Alexander and Peter Holland. The agreement will enable the development of the MOVE Programme for all children and young people with physical impairments to benefit from it throughout West Berkshire. The 2 year agreement will establish a sustainable framework in operating and training identified individuals in the use of the MOVE Programme which will remain in place for the benefit of disabled children in the area both now and in the future.
To achieve the Regional Centre of Excellence status, we have demonstrated on-going ‘best practice’ in both the interpretation of the theory of MOVE, and in helping children with disabilities learn the skills to enable them to become more independent. MOVE Regional Centres of Excellence provide long term continuity for the MOVE Programme on a local and national level. They allow interested parties to visit their site as a recommendation of what can be achieved through the programme and they provide support to all MOVE users in their region.
The day also celebrated the achievements of two young people who have now graduated from the MOVE Programme. Casie Bridgeman from Brookfields School and Stephen Cotes from the Avenue School were presented with their graduation plaques by Peter Holland.
MOVE Europe’s CEO Peter Holland comments, “The children, teachers, therapists and parents at Brookfields School have all worked extremely hard with the MOVE Programme. We are delighted that due to the Local Authority MOVE Development Agreement, that all children who need the MOVE Programme in West Berkshire will benefit from it. It’s great for the whole school to celebrate their efforts and accomplishments with a MOVE Day. The MOVE Programme aims to get children moving around in different ways, thereby reducing health problems, including a potential decrease in the need for surgery, and improving quality of life. Improvements are also seen in communication and social skills as the children gain the ability to interact with the world around them. MOVE Day celebrates all such achievements.”
Councillor Barbara Alexander, Executive Member for Education West Berkshire Local Authority comments; “We are delighted to be able to be working with Brookfields School to offer the benefits of MOVE to Children and Young People in West Berkshire. The Programme offers a fantastic opportunity to support and promote not only mobility, but inclusion, communication, health and wellbeing. This is an exciting development in the support for these youngsters.”
Brandon Mills, Deputy Head at the school describes what these achievements mean to Brookfields: “It’s an absolute privilege to work with the children on the MOVE Programme and help them achieve what, in many cases, had been thought impossible, MOVE is a refreshing positive approach, as many of these children and families have mostly had negative feed back previously. The programme shows that every child given the opportunities CAN ACHIEVE! To gain the recognition from MOVE Europe, be awarded the Quality Mark and become a MOVE Regional Centre of Excellence is fantastic for our school, pupils and their families. It re-enforces the extremely high level of good practice we work towards. We are looking forward to celebrating our success, and with our new status helping more children and young people than ever access the MOVE Programme in West Berkshire due to the Local Authority MOVE Development Agreement.”
To find out more about MOVE and how Brookfields School can help you, please contact 0118 942 1382 or click here