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Chief Executive Mike Robinson said:
"Thanks to an organisation wideeffort, Prior's
Court has risen to meet
the challenges that coronavirus has
presented to us so far, including
ensuring education continues to be
provided to our young people.
"At all times, the health and wellbeing
of our young people and our staff is our top priority.
"As many of our young people live at
Prior's Court for 52 weeks of the year,
continuing to be able to provide care
during coronavirus was essential.
"But it is equally important to provide
education to our young people to
continue developing their skills and
independence. How we delivered
learning had to be adapted swiftly,
but in a safe and effective way, while
ensuring our young people were
still working towards accredited
qualifications. This involved focusing
on ASDAN qualification modules which
could be delivered within residential
settings. Sections and sub-sections
within the modules have also allowed
us to monitor student progress, as to
ensure their education is not negatively
impacted by the changes, and provide
evidence of development of skills.
"These adjustments were not made
lightly, as our young people can
find change very difficult. Through
techniques such as social stories,
schedules and structure, we were able
to communicate these changes, and
others made to life at Prior's Court,
effectively and introduce a new routine.
"Our Education and Residential teams
have reported positive outcomes from
our adjusted approach, which have
created stronger bonds between staff
members, staff and the young people,
and within the young people's own
peer groups.
"Of course, we are not complacent.
There are challenges we still face and
there will be challenges still to come.
But the end of a term of embedding
our adapted learning methods is a time
to reflect and we are deeply proud
as an organisation of what we have
achieved so far.
"These achievements are down to the
dedication, adaptability, creativity
and passion of our members of staff,
the support of the parents of our
young people, and our young people
themselves, who have taken these
changes in their stride."
Prior's Court has had support from a
wide range of organisations who made
donations during coronavirus or have
offered help in other ways.
Support has come in offering facilities
for our use, handing out PPE and
donating food (including literally
hundreds of Easter eggs).
Here is a list of those organisations we
would like to say thank you to:
• Newbury Showground
• Downe House School
• Gardner Leader Solicitors
• Newbury Lions Club
• Duchess and the Deli (Lambourn)
• Morrisons
• Nandos
• Science & Technology Facilities
Council - Swindon
• Williams F1
• SwiftPak Packaging
• The North Middlesex Hospital
and Cadbury's
A massive thank you to all parents
who also made donations of
everything from gloves, masks and
hand sanitiser, to sweet treats for
staff members.
Thank yous/priorscourt