Lockrum Fields

Wider Ambition opens a new school in Stoke Pound

Education provider Wider Ambition has announced the opening of a new school in Stoke Pound, near Bromsgrove, for academically able students with autism, anxiety and related needs.

Until recently, academically able students with autism in Worcestershire who were unable to access teaching in a mainstream classroom often either had to sacrifice their academic aspirations or attend residential schools away from home.

Wider Ambition became aware of the significant gap in local provision and has teamed up with a group of parents and professionals to transform a six-bedroom bungalow into the specialist day school, Lokrum Fields, which can accommodate up to 18 students aged from nine to 16.

Lokrum Fields is situated in beautiful grounds and overlooks open countryside, allowing the academic and social curricula to embrace opportunities for outdoor learning. A ‘home from home’ atmosphere will enable students to feel safe and secure.

The calm feel of Lokrum Fields’ rural surroundings is reflected in the low sensory, spacious premises, where students can access sensory areas and individual workspaces. The specialist teaching and therapeutic support work alongside the environment to remove the barriers to learning faced by students in mainstream settings, helping them to achieve academically and fulfil their aspirations.

Cindy, a young therapy dog, will welcome students in the morning, provide cuddles and deep pressure therapy, play ball on the large paddock and see students back to their transport and on their way home.

The curriculum at Lokrum Fields is based on the national curriculum and is designed to support students to achieve a good range of GCSEs and leave Lokrum as confident, enthusiastic, and resilient learners. Students and families will be encouraged to build links with each other and the local community and participate in exciting extra-curricular activities, like the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Staff are keen to hear from local businesses who would be willing to support students in work experience placements when the time comes.

All the Lokrum Fields staff work closely with students, families and professionals to tailor the provision to each student and remove the barriers to learning that have prevented them from accessing the curriculum successfully in previous placements.

The Wider Ambition team hopes that this will be the first of a number of educational settings in Worcestershire and that the future will now look brighter for students who have this particular profile of needs.