About Kisimul Group

Award Winning Education

KISIMUL GROUP is a long-established provider of quality education and care services to children and young adults with complex learning difficulties, challenging behaviour, autism and global developmental delay. Twice winners of The Teacher of the Year Award (Excellence in Special Needs Teaching - East Midlands Region), we are committed to providing excellent teaching and continuity of service to very vulnerable young people for whom drastic change is overwhelming.

"The quality of education is outstanding leading to students at both sites making excellent progress. Their severe learning difficulties, autism and challenging behaviours are understood thoroughly. Students\' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding because of both the significant impact of educational provision, and the care and support in school and in residential hours. The barriers to communication, social interaction and independence caused by students\' severe learning difficulties and challenging behaviour are removed extremely effectively. As a result, students experience and engage with the world around them in increasingly meaningful ways and are able to contribute very effectively."

Ofsted Report May 2009

30 years experience

The original Kisimul School was established in The Old Vicarage in Swinderby, in 1977. Pronounced "kishmul" the name comes from Kisimul Castle which overlooks one of the safest harbours in the British Isles. Like their namesake, Kisimul Schools are a safe haven, providing care and protection for their pupils whilst preparing them for the journey ahead. The original school building still accommodates many of the children of our Lower School.

Kisimul Upper School, opened in 2004 for children from 16 - 19 years, is located in Acacia Hall in seven acres of grounds in a small village to the north of Lincoln. Our newest school, Woodstock House, opened in May 2008 in Long Ditton, Surrey. This beautiful Edwardian house in its stunning country grounds will eventually offer Kisimul\'s quality services to up to 60 pupils with learning disabilities, aged from 8 to 19. All of our schools and homes are within easy reach of towns and major road and rail arteries, making it easy to keep in touch.

"Teaching and assessment are outstanding, gaining strong impact on learning from the teachers\' and others\' very effective implementation of the curriculum in the classroom and beyond. Thorough multi-disciplinary assessment results in the staff knowing students extremely well. This leads to very positive relationships eliciting high levels of response and interaction by students which in turn helps to promote their learning."

Ofsted Report May 2009

A broader Autistic Sepctrum

In November 2009, Kisimul Group Ltd. acquired Cruckton Hall School. This school compliments our business although it provides a different specialist service than our current schools.

Situated in a beautiful rural location within 4 miles of the large town of Shrewsbury, Cruckton Hall School has, since 1981, become a leading resource in the UK for boys with Aspergers Syndrome, ADD and ADHD.

Cruckton Hall School provides a long established, successful and important option for boys with a range of difficulties within the Autistic Spectrum of Disorders. The school specialises in integrating young people with Aspergerís syndrome and their associated vulnerability and/or challenging behaviour.

Cruckton Hall has continued to respond to a variety of needs presented and now boasts residential provision registered as a children\'s home for those who require 52 week placements. Moreover, we can continue to provide support through school, Further Education and into adult life.

24 hour curriculum

Residential placements are available from 38 - 52 weeks per year. Our aim is to provide a warm, caring environment in which a child can flourish and develop skills to his or her full potential. Residential and school staff work as a team to provide a consistent 24 hour approach.

Each child has a school programme based on an assessment of his/her needs, and in which parental views are considered to be an important part of the process. Emphasis is placed on providing a stimulating and rich environment, including such activities as horse-riding, cinema and ten pin bowling, as well as outings to zoos, theme parks and theatres. Children have the opportunity to go camping and hill walking and weekend activities associated with this add to the busy pattern of life at the school.

"In lessons, pupils are challenged at exactly the right level, so that they are engaged but not over-pressured. Their behavioural difficulties are expertly managed through well-practised and consistent procedures."

(Ofsted - 2006)

Dedicated staff, effective programmes

The schools offer a very high staff ratio (usually at least 1:1), small groups at all times, a consistent, structured approach and speech therapy, music therapy, HANDLE play therapy and aromatherapy. Residential care is on a 38, 50 and 52 weeks basis per year and is committed to a non-aversive approach. We follow a broad and balanced curriculum including a modified National Curriculum, and offer an extensive range of therapeutic and developmental programmes, including speech and language therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy, HANDLE, EASIE and structured play development. The post-16 curriculum is underpinned by a wide variety of ASDAN programmes, through which the pupils gain external accreditation.

"The support and guidance given to pupils is outstanding. Through this, pupils learn to communicate in a more acceptable manner, and come to have a better understanding of themselves and how to manage their own difficulties."

(Ofsted - 2006)

Safety, comfort and fun

Our schools and houses are well-equipped and the bedrooms bright, warm and friendly. There are soft play areas, multi-sensory rooms, and adventure playgrounds. At Swinderby we have our own large indoor swimming pool, and at Acacia Hall a little farm with characterful animals!

Most teachers working at Kisimul have extra qualifications for working with children with special needs and/or many years experience. Classroom assistants and Care staff have NVQs, Learning Support Certificates, or other suitable qualifications and experience. Most staff are of very long standing and staff turn-over is low.

Adult care: tailor-made services

Recent expansion of our service for young adults, means that many of our Kisimul School leavers can now remain in the area they\'ve grown up in, with the people they trust; embarking on their adult life in a Kisimul Group home. We are now in a position to offer the same high-quality, tailor-made service to authorities throughout the UK, for individual school leavers or groups of school friends who would like to share a home together.

We currently have two small adult homes in the communities of North Scarle and Washingborough offering a total 16 residential places. The company has plans to further increase provision due to the large demand for these services.

"The home is very well run, with staff that are very well trained and supported. They know residents very well, and have a good relationship with them. The staff work well together, and enjoy working at the home. They provide good support for the people living there."

(CSCI An Caladh House Inspection Report. 2008)

Our adult homes have received positive feedback from all agencies and are deemed to offer an exceptional service by our inspectorate. (CSCI)

In 2004, we opened An Darach Care, our own domiciliary care agency. This agency provides an exceptional level of service in specially-designed individual properties to hypersensitive autistic individuals with a massive level of need, for whom group living has proved too challenging. Those who would benefit from this arrangement would probably be school leavers who it is known cannot thrive in any traditional style of placement. With an entire household arranged around the needs of one service user, we find that the transition to adulthood is smooth. Life skills are quickly acquired followed by remarkable improvements in behaviour.

"Quality in this outcome area is excellent. This judgement has been made using available evidence, including a visit to this service."

If you would like an informal chat about any of our schools or adult services, or would like to come and visit, please get in touch.

The Kisimul standard means: