Wirral's independent local news website
Impact North West has been awarded the prestigious ADHD Friendly award by the ADHD Foundation for their work with children with ADHD this academic year.
Impact North West, which has sites at Eastham, Birkenhead, Ellesmere Port, and Northwich in Cheshire, is a part-time alternative education provider that places inclusion at the very heart of its culture and ethos which is reflected in the work they have done to help in achieving this award.
Impact North West has considered all of the main barriers to learning for children with ADHD and has sought to address them in their everyday practice. This includes the use of tactile resources in each classroom as a tool to assist children in regulating their attention, as well as facilitating weekly ‘Enrichment Trips’.
These trips have allowed children to have fresh air and some exercise in outdoor space while also experiencing, investigating and learning about the world around them and their local community.
Helping learners with ADHD to regulate their emotions and learn self-calming strategies was a key feature of the submission for the award with great use of the space they have available. Each centre has its own designated ‘calm area’ where children can apply the self-calming strategies they have been taught on ‘Mindful Mondays’, such as deep breathing exercises.
Impact North West has also worked hard to consider how it can support parents of children with ADHD, which is reflected in the successful ‘Parent and Carer Support Group’, set up to give advice, guidance and allow parents and carers to ask questions and share their experience.
Impact North West have also done a tremendous job of celebrating neurodiversity through their displays, which showcase and promote the positives of ADHD, as well as highlighting positive role models in the form of successful people living with ADHD.
Holly Cottrell, Founder of Impact North West said, “We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award from the ADHD Foundation. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do and it is so lovely for our hard work in supporting young people to be recognised.
“The part-time courses that our learners attend allow them to be successful in their ongoing education and progression for the future. Breaking down any barriers that they have is key to their success moving forward.”
Colin Foley, the training director of the ADHD Foundation said, “It has been fantastic working with Impact North West. The staff have gone above and beyond to make their lessons and their centre environment enjoyable, supportive and safe spaces for their students with ADHD and I’m delighted 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 improve emotional well-being, educational attainment, behaviour and life chances through better understanding and self-management of ADHD, ASD and related learning difficulties.
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news