Stockport charity the Seashell Trust has had a welcome visit from the Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson, to their disabled young people’s centre in Cheadle Hulme.
Mr Timpson, accompanied by local MP Mark Hunter, met teaching staff and students, including several from his Crewe and Nantwich constituency.
The charity, which runs the Royal School Manchester and Royal College Manchester, is a centre of excellence in educating and caring for children with the most profound disabilities.
The Minister said:
“I was very impressed with the excellent provision I saw at the Seashell Trust. We are reforming the system to provide a more joined-up approach to supporting children with complex needs.
“Our special education needs reforms will give families much clearer information on the support they can expect locally, and provide them with a personal budget so parents and children have more control over the support they receive.”
Pictured Left:
Mark Hunter MP, student Julian Douglas who is from Wistaston Green in Mr Timpson’s Crewe & Nantwich constituency, Anne-Marie Okotie (Head of Care), Ed Timpson MP, Bernie White (Head of College) and Mark Geraghty (CEO).
Pictured Right:
Support worker Naveeda Khan and student Hayden Weigh meet Edward Timpson MP and Mark Hunter MP.
Mark Geraghty, CEO of Seashell Trust, said:
“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Seashell Trust. He was particularly impressed that both Royal School Manchester and its associated children’s homes had Outstanding judgements from Ofsted and that the Quality Care Commission had given similar judgements to our homes for young adults.
“Mr Simpson was also very interested to hear about the charity’s plans to build 17 new homes on our site for those young people who live here and for others, not on our school or college roll, who might require short breaks in the future.”
MP for Cheadle Mark Hunter added:
“I never fail to be impressed by the good work that goes on here. The staff really do a super job in challenging and difficult circumstances and deserve great credit for the difference they can make to these young lives.”