Engage Motivate Inspire

Dear James and all at GDF.

I am writing as we draw to the end of the term to express my sincere  gratitude to yourself, Lisa and the team for all the amazing work you have done with D since he started with you in September. 

As your aware D struggled in a mainstream school environment.  He struggled being in a traditional school setting, he often ran away escaping from the school grounds, showed some violent meltdowns, refused to attend school most days by running away and ripping his uniform off, refused to engage in any learning whatsoever and he was always very stressed and anxious at home the knock on effect of his school life.

Since starting at the farm school the progress is unbelievable.  He is so happy. He is excited to attend his 3 days we never have any refusal to get up and dressed and ready.  He is engaging in learning in his own way with a team that is patient and understanding to his needs.  The running away episodes have stopped the violent outbursts have stopped. He is the happiest we have ever know him and this is down to the outstanding support he is receiving from everyone who is working with him at GDF. 

The environment at the farm is perfect for D. He does not like to be stuck in a classroom and the farm gives him the opportunity to feel at ease. He has space and activities to keep him fully occupied and enable him to concentrate on learning rather than feeling anxious that there are too many people, too noisy he doesn't feel forced into doing anything and with his pathological demand avoidance this in the past has been a huge barrier to his learning.

I've just had a brief chat with D about how he feels about the farm he says 

"They don't force me to do work "

"They explain my work in an easy way "

"I love the animals "

"I like the people like James and Amberley, and Lisa, Mikayla because they are nice and they understand me"

I think D's comments say it all!

Thanks again for making this such a positive experience for D we honestly can't thank you enough you have given us back a happy little boy and we couldn't be prouder.

I cannot imagine him now not with you he is such a changed  happy and different little boy. He even reads every night before bed I have never been able to say this before he is enjoying learning now for  the first time ever in his school career.  

Your farm school is the perfect placement for children like D that cannot cope with a traditional school environment in either mainstream or specialised provision, the physical classrooms, amount of people, school routines do not work with D and many other children and the farm school is that in between that is so desperately needed. 

I would never have any doubts about recommending this provision to other parents in a similar situation and am more than happy for you to share this letter with prospective parents and organisations. 

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing what 2021 has to bring.