History

Overley Hall is still used as a private residence

Professor Joan D Bicknell began regular visits to Overley Hall offering specialist advice on behavior management and medication. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Bicknell

Professor Bicknell was Britain’s first female psychiatry professor working at St George’s University of London.

A Pioneer in the area of Learning Disabilities, she recommended the use of “Makaton” and the founders of this communication tool visited Overley Hall to teach the language to staff and children.

Makaton has been taught and used at Overley Hall ever since.

Station House opened. A home for young adults who had completed their education at Overley Hall.

Many years of consolidation with the ongoing improvements in special education in the UK along with the advent of OFSTED.

An extension was added to the Lodge building as care accommodation for older children. The Lodge focuses on developing independent living skills.

The old school block was demolished, and a purpose-built school opened.

The Woodlands is a purpose-built, five bedroomed home situated in the grounds of Overley Hall. It is a small group home  for adults with a range of complex, high support needs including autism and severe learning disabilities.

As the children aren’t always able to cope with visiting a large external cinema, this facility was built with authentic cinema seats, lighting, screen and sound with an adjacent kitchen to dispense drinks and snacks.

Demolition of old extension building at the front of Overley Hall to accommodate a new care family room, “Kingfisher”. Kingfisher has two purpose-built bathrooms, one of which is fitted a Jacuzzi. The new extension also features four new offices.

The old workshops were converted into a independent living skills centre with 3 kitchens and areas for relaxation.