Oldham primary school celebrates prestigious ADHD Foundation award

Pictured are (left) Principal of OA Limeside, Ms Lauren Norris, and (right) SENCO Strategic Lead for SEND and Senior Mental Health Lead, Ms Emily Charles

An Oldham primary school has received the ADHD Friendly Schools Award from the ADHD Foundation, which certifies that this academy welcomes all learners to achieve their academic potential.

In order to achieve the award, Oasis Academy Limeside worked in partnership with the ADHD Foundation, the largest provider of ADHD training for parents and professionals in the UK, and agreed to work together to achieve the six ‘ADHD Friendly School Pledges'.

Oasis Academy Limeside have successfully implemented the pledge to work with the ADHD Foundation to provide a training session for our staff team.

The academy provides regular opportunities for all learners with ADHD to have access to physical activity and exercise during the school day.

Opportunities for all learners with ADHD to learn self-calming strategies such as breathing, progressive muscle relaxation or mindfulness are all available.

The academy also provides tactile resources in every classroom, one of the ways in which they do this is by producing displays for the whole school and hold assemblies to celebrate the achievements of people living with ADHD.

Information and support for parents and carers of children and young people with ADHD is offered at all times.

The school's SENCO, Strategic Lead for SEND and Senior Mental Health Lead, Emily Charles, said: "We are working to have a child-centred approach with the children’s needs at the heart of everything we do.

"Working with the ADHD Foundation we have been able to improve staff knowledge of ADHD and the challenges having ADHD can pose, plus develop the provision we have in school for both staff and children with ADHD.

“We are incredibly proud that as a school we have achieved the ADHD Friendly School Award, which means that we have been recognised as making a commitment to supporting children with ADHD throughout school.”

Principal Lauren Norris praised staff at the academy.

She said: “I know that as an academy, we will continue to build upon the values and ethos at the school ensuring that the children, staff, and the wider community, continue to grow together as successful, respectful, and independent learners.

“After having gained the ADHD Friendly School status, I’m very much looking forward to continuing the journey of striving for excellence for every pupil, staff member and wider community.”

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