News

HILLINGDON sprinter Joseph Galea was one of the shining stars to emerge from the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games Athletics - Disability competition.

More than 500 young people took part at the event last Thursday, June 10, at Mile End Stadium.

Competing against opponents up to the age of 16, the 13-year-old Galea scorched to victory in the boys’ MLD (moderate learning disability) 100m in 12.6 seconds. Afterwards he said: “I didn’t know I could run a race like that.

"It was close, when I was racing the guy behind me was getting close to beating me, so I ran faster.”

Hillingdon placed tenth in the borough team competition in the boys’ event and tenth in the girls event.

The day was attended by Paralympic 800m amputee gold medallist Danny Crates. He said: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic day. When you come to an athletics event with between 500 and 600 competitors, it’s great for the sport. It’s been really exciting, lots of enthusiasm and some really good performances too.

“This type of competition is really important. It’s a chance for many of these young people to try out competitive athletics for the first time ever. It’s really important for the sport – this is the grass roots for us. In terms of Paralympic sport, this is where we will find the talent of the future.”

The London Youth Games is Europe’s largest annual youth sports event. In 2009 around 47,000 kids took part in 30 sports from all 33 London boroughs.

The 2010 season ends at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on 3-4 July.

12^th February 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I am writing to keep you updated with premises improvements for the school. I am very pleased to announce that last Thursday, after long negotiations, Anna Kennedy finally signed the lease for Yiewsley Grange to become part of Hillingdon Manor School buildings.

Yiewsley Grange will be refurbished over the next four months to provide placements for 50 primary age pupils. The site will have 8 classes, a hall, therapy rooms, offices and a lovely outdoor area with space for play, a garden and horticulture facilities.

The school should be finished and furnished by July, in time to gradually introduce those pupils who will be moving in September to their new school. It is envisaged that all the pupils who are in primary up till Year 7 will move to the Yiewsley site.

This will allow us to consolidate the Manor as the main Secondary site and to have more space for pupils who need secondary places.

This is an exciting time for Hillingdon Manor School and we will keep you informed as plans are finalised. We will also be very careful about explaining the move to the pupils in a visual and supportive way later on in the school year.

Best Wishes,

Judith Azzopardi

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28^th January 2009

Parents meeting at The Manor on Wednesday 28^th January 2009

Dear Parents/Carers,

Thank you to all of you who attended the parents meeting at The Manor on Wednesday 28th January 09 at 6pm.

In attendance from the Hillcrest group were; Roger Colvin Chief Executive, Richard Greenwell Managing Director. Also in attendance was Dr Jonty Clark who is Head teacher of Nightingale School and Nationwide specialist on 14-19 provision in mainstream and special needs education and myself.

Hillcrest spoke of their background in care and education services and then went on to talk about the acquisition of The Hillingdon Group and future developments for Hillingdon Manor School.

Richard Greenwell spoke of new developments within Hillingdon Manor which included internal refurbishments for the Manor and new ICLSD provision. We are in the process of searching for a near by property that will be a vocational unit and F.E classroom accommodation for our secondary children which is envisaged to include painting and decorating, hair and beauty, bricklaying and hospitality and catering.

 I visited Nightingale school where these vocational activities were taking place with children diagnosed with autism and was very impressed. Dr Jonty Clark who is Head of a Federation of Schools in Wandsworth which includes Nightingale School  has been instrumental in the success of these vocational activities and only last week received an’ outstanding ‘Ofsted rating.

We are also in the process of looking for other buildings that could cater for secondary education provision. If anyone is aware of any buildings that you feel may be suitable please pass on the details to me. This is in its early stage. I am sure you will appreciate this is very exciting and I will keep you updated with any future developments.

The meeting ended with a question and answer session and an opportunity to meet the Richard,Roger and Jonty. It is our intention to provide regular communication with parents and we look forward to an exciting new stage on Hillingdon Manor School’s development.

Anna Kennedy
Director

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13^th November 2008

Exciting new chapter for Hillingdon Manor School 's success story

Hillingdon Manor School, which provides specialist education for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), has been acquired by Hillcrest, one of the UK 's leading independent providers of children's homes, foster care and learning disability services.

Hillingdon Manor, which caters for up to 90 children, was co founded by Anna Kennedy, herself the mother of two boys with ASD, when she could find no suitable local provision in Hillingdon, West London. The school has earned considerable recognition for its outstanding work, and caught the imagination of Esther Rantzen who is now its patron.

Anna Kennedy's crusading experiences are captured in her inspiring book "Not Stupid" which won national acclaim, and her story was also featured on an hour long BBC 'pick of the day' video diary.

Commenting on the acquisition Barry Sampson, Chairman and Founder of Hillcrest said. "We are delighted to be adding Hilling don Manor School to the Hillcrest family. After our acquisition of Orange Grove foster care last year, which is going from strength to strength, we were keen to continue the strategic growth of Hillcrest into associated areas."

Welcoming the development as a means of expanding and enhancing the existing services, Anna Kennedy said. "When we started Hillingdon Manor I was determined that my children, and others like them, would be able to get high quality care and support at an early stage. Our approach has been very successful in getting young people with ASD to make real educational progress, including passing their GCEs, through the work done at the school. We are very excited about taking the school forward into its next stage of development with Hillcrest Care." Anna will remain in her role as director of Hillingdon Manor School and other adult provision (which includes West London Community College, The Old Vicarage and Summacare), working closely with the Hillcrest management team to build on the excellent achievements to date.

Being part of the Hillcrest group will provide the school with greater support and access to funds for expansion and development of services. Hillcrest have already added an extra classroom block to help ease excess demand and other developments are planned.