In my ministerial role I spend a lot of time looking at how special schools can help children with special educational and complex needs grow into independent, resilient and capable young people, so it was great to visit Sunnydown School in Caterham to see how it’s done on our doorstep.
The headteacher, Paul Jensen, and I had a wide-reaching and incredibly helpful discussion on SEND funding, mental health support for his students, Ofsted, and the recruitment and retention of staff in specialist settings.
It was also fab to see the students’ handmade garden furniture and their BBQ hut, which has proved to be a sanctuary for their students with complex needs – as well as their wonderful on-site doggo, Jemmy.
