13th September 2022
Dan-Y-Coed’s first ever pupil graduates to a mainstream school
Morgan Smith spent five years at Dan-Y-Coed under a team of support workers from Orbis Education and Care and now enjoys learning at a local comprehensive
The first pupil to attend Dan-Y-Coed school and home for children with autism and learning disabilities in Swansea has progressed so well thanks to the help of the teaching, clinical and behavioural support staff that he is now attending a mainstream comprehensive school.
Morgan Smith was the first pupil to join the school back in January 2018. He had been to several schools, specialist facilities and independent education provisions prior to joining Dan-Y-Coed. He had always expressed a desire to go to a mainstream school, so the team at Dan-Y-Coed devised a support plan to get him there.
A strong team of learning support staff, teachers and clinical therapists, including a behaviour specialist, helped him to gradually break down behavioural barriers, build trust with staff and understand that they would stick by him through tough times. Small classes with a bespoke curriculum unique to him proved invaluable and were the key to his success and he made such good progress that he is now attending Dylan Thomas Community School in Swansea as a pupil.
Orbis Education and Care’s Head of Education Emma Thomas said it is very rare for pupils to go from an independent specialist school to a mainstream placement and she is absolutely delighted with the progress the 15-year-old has made.
“Morgan was our first pupil here and he quickly expressed a desire to go to a mainstream school. The teaching support he needed gradually decreased, and he surpassed his clinical targets, and this direct intervention was slowly reduced and eventually stopped as he had made excellent progress. “As part of his last annual review, Morgan wrote to the Swansea Local Authority panel expressing his desire to go to a mainstream school and asked if they would help him get there. They listened and asked an educational psychologist to undertake an assessment to ensure he was ready for this journey. Morgan excelled at this, and we worked with the Dylan Thomas Community School to create a good transition plan into the secondary school.”
Emma Thomas Head of Education, Dan Y Coed
Morgan is attending on a bespoke hybrid basis. Staff from Dan-Y-Coed go to his school daily to support them in understanding how best to work with him whilst also providing familiarity for him too.
Emma added that it has been an emotional time watching her first ever pupil fulfil his ambition.
“Seeing him in his uniform brought a tear to my eye! I was crying with pure elation and pride. I was so proud of him. It’s not often that you get to see an achievement of this magnitude and how it can affect the life of a pupil and their family. “I was Morgan’s teacher and Headteacher on day one, and never imagined we would see this level of progress. Success of this magnitude takes commitment, resilience and perseverance from all staff, and I could not be prouder of Morgan and the whole staff team.”
Emma Thomas Head of Education, Dan Y Coed
