Press Release

Springwater School awarded an ‘outstanding’ MOVE Quality Mark

Springwater School, Starbeck, Harrogate was today awarded a MOVE Quality Mark - which makes them one of only nineteen schools across Europe to receive this status, and one of the first to receive an ‘outstanding’ mark!

Today, Springwater celebrates its Quality Mark presentation. The celebration will feature the award of a commemorative plaque, presented by a MOVE Chief Executive Nigel Carter. The school has invited guests including the parents and families of children on the MOVE Programme - as well as representatives from the governors. The celebration will include refreshments and a chance to meet and chat to Nigel then taking part in a whole school assembly for the official presentation.

The MOVE Quality Mark measures the quality or provision by an organisation currently using the MOVE Programme, to help pupils increase their levels of independent mobility. This Quality Mark is a special award that acts as an external validation and recognition of best practice and progress in the MOVE Programme principles.

The school was judged to be outstanding against the best practice principles of the MOVE Programme, notably, excellent team work between educationalists, therapists and parents in meeting the children’s needs and their outstanding processes for raising standards and expectations for children with complex needs.

The MOVE Partnership is a small UK based charity aiming to provide severely disabled children with the opportunity of independent movement. The MOVE Programme is an activity based programme which combines the knowledge of family, education and therapy to help children to become active participants in their own lives, by teaching them the skills of sitting, standing, walking and transferring to the very best of their ability. Each child works towards their own personalised goals whether it be to lift their head independently for 30 seconds, or to walk a short distance, with only their hand held for support so they can join their friends to play.

Nigel Carter, The MOVE Partnership’s Chief Executive, who was involved in assessing the school for its Quality Mark and is presenting the plaque, commented; “The children, teachers, therapists and parents at Springwater School have all worked extremely hard with the MOVE Programme so it’s great to celebrate their efforts and accomplishments. The MOVE Programme aims to get children moving around in different ways, thereby reducing health problems, including a potential decrease in the need for surgery, and improving quality of life. Improvements are also seen in communication and social skills as the children gain the ability to interact with the world around them.”

Stephanie Nagy MOVE Co-ordinator at Springwater describes what it means to the school: “It’s an absolute privilege to work with the children on the MOVE Programme and help them to progress beyond what was thought possible. MOVE is a refreshing positive approach for many children and families. The programme shows that every child given the opportunities CAN ACHIEVE! To gain the recognition from the MOVE Partnership and be awarded the MOVE Quality Mark is fantastic for our school, it re-enforces the extremely high level of good practice we work towards. We are looking forward to celebrating our success.”

For further information on the MOVE Programme please see www.themovepartnership.org.uk or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It costs the MOVE Partnership just £252pa to allow a child to access the MOVE Programme and its benefits for a year. To help children like those at Springwater to live the healthiest and happiest lives possible by accessing the MOVE Programme, please donate to the charity at -www.justgiving.com/donate

Notes to Editor:

For further information please contact Daniel Charcharos at the MOVE Partnership on: 020 7403 6382, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The MOVE Partnership is a small UK based national charity working with schools/centres, teachers, therapists and parents to provide the most severely disabled children and adults throughout the UK with increased mobility by teaching the skills necessary for independent sitting, standing, walking and transferring. As a result, the MOVE Programme can help to develop the child or adult’s cognitive and communication skills, can improve health and social inclusion whilst also providing opportunities to gain greater independence and to make choices for themselves.

MOVE provides a best practice framework for parents and professionals working with disabled children and adults. It seeks to bring services together and to encourage collaborative working at all levels, placing a structure around work that is already taking place, and it's health and social benefits are supported by academic research.

Over 4,000 children have already benefitted form the MOVE Programme. To date more than 4,000 people have been trained to practice the MOVE Programme and there are over 600 schools, centres and PCT departments using the MOVE Programme across the country.

For further details, please see www.themovepartnership.org.uk