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by Gemma Fraser
23 November 2018
New school for vulnerable children opened

Image credit: Church of Scotland 

New school for vulnerable children opened

A new education campus for children with additional support needs was due to be officially opened in Renfrewshire on Friday.

Erskine Waterfront Campus is run by CrossReach, the operating arm of the Church of Scotland’s social care council.

The facility has been designed for up to 36 pupils aged seven to 15 who need additional support following childhood trauma or adverse experiences.

Smaller class sizes are aimed at creating a more nurturing environment and allow children more time with education specialists at the independent school.

The school, which has five classrooms, has been built around a central courtyard, which features astroturf for outdoor activities and a climbing frame.

It provides places for day pupils, as well as catering for pupils in residential care.

Erskine Waterfront Campus marks a move away from CrossReach's larger care and education provision at Geilsland School in Beith, Ayrshire and Ballikinrain School near Balfron in Stirlingshire to a model of smaller community houses, clustered round a central education hub.

Kyle Fleming, head of education at the Erskine Waterfront Campus, said he and his team were “feeling really motivated and energised” by the new facility.

He said: “This is a first class school with a wonderful nurturing ethos where pupils are provided with a high level of support to bring out the best in them.

“They have access to the full curriculum in creative ways and we are committed to giving our pupils the best possible start in life.

“The school community has been welcomed by the wider Erskine community, allowing our curriculum to benefit from local facilities and new partnerships.”

Pupil Jordan Mackellar, 15, said he had benefitted from the small class sizes at the school.

He said: “I liked nursery and primary school but when I went to secondary school I found it difficult to focus on the work because there were too many people in the classes.

“There were too many distractions and as the years went on I started going less and less and eventually I stopped attending at all.

“But since coming to Erskine Waterfront Campus it has been a lot better and I have been enjoying it a lot more.

“It is a place where you can come and be yourself and you don’t have to worry about being judged and what others think.

“There are less people in a classroom and it is a lot easier to concentrate and you get more one-on-one time with teachers to help you with things you are struggling with.”

Sheila Gordon, director of children and family services at CrossReach, added: “Over the past five years, CrossReach has undertaken a review of its provision, taking into account the current needs of children and families who are referred to the service.

“This has led to the decision to move away from the larger residential school model to a more modern approach, with children living in small houses within communities and attending school in a similar way that other children would do, giving them the opportunity to achieve the best possible outcomes.

“It also opens up access to children who may need additional support with learning by providing places for day pupils.”

CrossReach is one of the largest care providers in Scotland, providing support to people of all ages across a range of services.

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