New unit aims to support children with anxiety

Children and young people with anxiety and mental health issues who are not in education should benefit from plans for a new specialist unit, an education trust said.

East Midlands Academy Trust (EMAT) said the unit, named Veris, would open at Northampton International Academy in September, subject to approval by Reform UK-controlled West Northamptonshire Council's cabinet next month.

EMAT said Veris would "bring together education and healthcare practitioners" to support children aged 11-16 who are struggling to attend a mainstream school.

Under plans, Veris would welcome 30 students through a phased admission over the next two years.

It will become EMAT's second such facility, after the academy trust opened a unit for children with emotionally based school avoidance at Prince William School in Oundle last year.

Veris will feature classrooms and therapy rooms where the trust said "learners can meet with educational and clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, and other specialists to support them back to full-time education".

EMAT chief executive Joshua Coleman said: "Our provisions bring together a unique blend of teaching and specialist support, and we are already seeing the impact of this in our first unit at Prince William School, where the learners are attending school and interacting well with their classmates and staff."

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