CHILDREN and staff are celebrating after being recognised nationally for attending a school on the move.

A special assembly was staged at the Dales School at Morton-on-Swale, near Northallerton, to mark the awarding of the Move Quality Mark.

Children with complex needs attending the school have been benefitting for more than two years from the introduction of Move – Movement Opportunity Via Education.

Piloted in America, it is an initiative that improves the quality of life for people with complex disabilities as well as their families and the professionals who care for them.

It aims to promote participation among the youngsters and encourages independence and dignity. For some children that can mean sitting in a chair or on a bench or walking representing a major achievement.

Staff, students and parents were joined by officials from Move for the special celebration which culminated in the cutting of a special cake.

Delighted school principal Hanne Barton said: “We take the initiative and adapt it to personal learning for mums and dads, teachers and teaching assistants, with everyone working out the next step. It is about movement with purpose so the students are helped to walk, not just to practice but to get somewhere.

“We had a thorough inspection and I am absolutely thrilled that we have been awarded the quality mark.”

The inspection report, by assessor Sarah Riley, described provision at the Dales School as outstanding.

The report highlighted how the system had been embedded into the daily life of the school with pupils showing exceptional progress.

It identified new parents being introduced to the scheme and a baseline assessment of pupils’ needs conducted, with targets set and reviewed. The report also praised new staff being inducted by a Move practitioner so they could begin supporting pupils immediately.