Spring Brook Academy receives prestigious ADHD Friendly award

Spring Brook Academy in Oldham has been awarded the prestigious ADHD Friendly School award by the ADHD Foundation for their work with children with ADHD this academic year.

Spring Brook Academy is proudly committed to supporting all children within their school, whatever their particular needs, and is a school that places inclusion at the centre of their ethos and culture.

Spring Brook Academy has considered all of the main barriers to learning for children with ADHD and has sought to address them in their everyday practice.

This ranges from increasing physical activity across the curriculum to their 'Quiet Spaces’ in each classroom – a much-valued space for children to self-regulate when needed.

Helping children with ADHD to regulate both their emotions and their attention was a key feature of the submission for the award with great use of many tactile resources across the school.

Spring Brook Academy has also considered how seating arrangements can support children with ADHD which is shown through the effective use of standing desks as well as spaces to kneel and work.

The children are given the freedom to choose their own work-station based on their needs.

Spring Brook Academy has also put a lot of consideration into how they can support children to self-regulate emotionally in school.

Yoga lessons and meditation have been used to teach mindfulness while resources such as weighted blankets and bean-bags are utilised to support those children who benefit from deep-pressure as a calming exercise.

Guinea pigs and tropical fish have also been introduced as therapeutic class pets to support with emotional self-regulation.

Spring Brook Academy have also done a fantastic job of celebrating neurodiversity through their displays, which showcase and promote the positives of ADHD, and supporting parents of children with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions by inviting them in for coffee mornings where they can get support from staff and network with other parents.

Toni Thomason, the Head of School at Spring Brook Academy, said: “I am thrilled that the hard work of the entire staff team has been recognised.

"We are committed to ensuring that Spring Brook Academy is a safe and warm learning environment where all children can succeed.

"It is vital to us that our children do not view their ADHD as a barrier to their learning – this is proving possible because of the continued support from our incredible staff team and wonderful families.”

Colin Foley, the training director of the ADHD Foundation, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Spring Brook Academy.

"The staff have gone above and beyond to make their lessons and their school environment enjoyable, supportive and safe spaces for their students with ADHD and I’m glad that they are getting the recognition for this that they deserve.”

The ADHD Foundation, based in Liverpool, works in partnership with individuals, families, doctors, teachers and other agencies to improving emotional well-being, educational attainment, behaviour and life chances through better understanding and self-management of ADHD, ASD and related learning difficulties.

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