As a parent of a child who had additional needs at an earlier age, now blessedly resolving, I have a huge amount to thank Athelstan House for. The head-teacher and SENCO together guided me carefully, honestly and openly through my application and have supported me with great sensitivity. I have in turn done my part to support all the wonderful staff. They are such intuitive teachers, giving all of themselves and more. They use their huge experience to tailor each individual child's pathway through their school to the child, and this is something which they can do because of their size.
My child was for various reasons terrified of school, truly fearful of other children, withdrawn and utterly miserable. Now happy, confident to be their own empathic and caring self, joyfully running into school every day, and enjoying and taking great pride in learning with friends who are very dear. And, every single child in Athelstan House is a friend, both in and out of school, and my child knows their family and their siblings and their pets and is able to chat to them in the street about some aspect of their life. My child is proud to be a part of what is the first stage of breaking away from an all at-home life - a larger family unit at school where independence is something your child is gently guided through, just like you would do at home to grow your child to gentle happy confidence. Athelstan House trusted their intuition about my child and trusted us as parents, and we in turn placed enormous trust in them. They have made an extraordinary difference to my child's life, as without this opportunity, this offer of extra time and care and responsibility (in a sea of extremely competitive pre-preps in this area who will not make this commitment), my child would have had doors closed for life at the age of 5. This does happen, thanks to ignorance, and it is the rare teachers like those at Athelstan House who are a shining beacon to all parents whose sensitive and academically gifted children need extra support in their early school life. At a time when ALL children are very, very little inside.
I make this post in support of the preceding messages today from other happy parents. I do not need to reiterate the wisdom of children having a chance to be in a small and safe environment, and about the need for expensive facilities, which are not really aimed at children this age in any school. I think it is wise to choose a school which fits the stage your child is at now, and then to move on to the next appropriate step when they themselves outgrow the provision and you can see what their needs will be for the next stage of their education. This is why the private sector divides into pre-prep, prep, middle and upper and different schools provide for each level. This school focuses on solidly instilling confidence and joy in learning. My child can play with figures confidently and with relish, and has made such progress in literacy that there is joy in reading and writing - no longer little head down on the table in despair. My child's education at Athelstan House has been successful and well-rounded in all areas, but I mention these specifically. Progress has been astonishing, I am very proud.
I cannot thank Athelstan House enough. As the posts on this string show, Athelstan House appeals to a huge range of parents with widely varied aspirations for their children in the longer term, and their results are solidly illustrated with each and every happy child who leaves them to go on to great things with the confidence that puts those things within reach.