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Residential Care

Notton House Academy strives for young people to reach their academic, physical, emotional and social potential, creating an ethos of engaging young people with their learning:

Developing the NHA values of:

Kindness, Safety, and Respect!

  • The key aim of boarding is enabling young people to improve their ability to engage in learning. A prime aspect of the provision is based on the safety and wellbeing of young people, aiming at providing learning experiences via fun, stimulation and social enhancement.
  • The current residential building is an old building boasting historical importance, namely that of its previous owner, Sir John Wither Awdry (1795-1878).

  • Notton House was probably built about 1742 for Edward Montague, who told John Awdry he had occupied it for 24 years when he sold it to him in 1766.

  • The house was then refronted and extended later, (most of the residential blocks are here) probably in the 1840s, for Sir John Wither Awdry (1795-1878), who moved in on returning from India in 1841.

  • Within the building, the residential provision is divided into areas, named Clifton, Avon, Kennet, Marden, Tamar, and Courtyard, along with two independent houses named Montague and Fox Talbot.

  • These house six key stage 4 boys on their journey into adulthood and independence. The young people will take responsibility for learning to cook their own meals, be able to clean and maintain their living area, and organise a shopping list, as well as manage the budget to purchase what they need.

  • When you join Notton House Academy, you’ll be introduced to your keyworkers, or you may be able to choose them too if you get on well with them. This is a member of staff who can give you a helping hand when needed. You can always request a ‘key session’ (some 1:1 time) with your keyworker or any other staff member if you feel you need to get something off your chest, tell us ideas for new activities, meals or just want a chat. There’s nothing the keyworkers like more than to have a chat. We’re here to listen about the good things as well as any problems you may have. The keyworkers have contact with home. Remember, you can always talk to any member of staff as well as your key worker.

  • We also offer music therapy and camp fire sessions in the evenings with Matthew Hemson ( https://www.therapeuticsongwriting.com) who offers opportunities for children & young people, to learn to play an instrument and / or develop skills on an instrument, as well as learning things about oneself, other subjects or life-skills through musical activity.

  • Our dedicated residential care team are committed to enriching our young people’s lives during their time at Notton House Academy. Through key working sessions and the running of activities and trips, they help pupils become more confident, considerate and caring young people.

Ways in which your care team can help support your child are:

  • Creating positive attachments
  • Learning to positively communicate with peers and adults
  • Helping to increase confidence and self-esteem
  • Allowing teenagers the room to become more independent
  • Managing and resolving conflicts positively
  • Working together to solve problems

Each week during the care time period, we organise different activities that take place before and after the young people have their evening meals. These include on-site activities using our own facilities, such as:

  • Football on our AstroTurf
  • Sports in the gymnasium
  • Electronic activities such as games consoles and DVDs and a state-of-the-art E-sports Facility
  • Mountain Biking around the surrounding area
  • Nerf guns
  • Outdoor walks / nature walks
  • The Polytunnel and live animal interaction
  • Fitness suite sessions
  • Baking and cooking facilities
  • Arts and crafts
  • Library Time
  • Board games and bingo
  • Cinema room
  • Climbing Wall
  • Sensory rooms and A Sensory Garden
  • Music Room

As well as offsite activities in the Wiltshire area such as:

  • Swimming
  • Reel Cinema Astoria
  • Freedog Trampolining
  • Laser Quest
  • Army Cadets
  • Sea Cadets
  • Boxing gyms
  • Snooker and pool hall
  • Local Football Training
  • The use of Canoes and Kayaks
  • Camping
  • Geocache
  • Bowling
  • Go Karting
  • Pokémon Go
  • Skate parks