As the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route public local inquiry begins on September 9, 2008, Camphill is maintaining an objection to the Milltimber Brae route until such time as school authorities can be assured that the impact will be tolerable and manageable.

The planned route runs within a few hundred yards of the Camphill Estate, which is part of Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools.

Camphill Estate is home to some 120 people, including around 40 children and young people who have complex special needs, including autism. Many have sensory problems, including over-sensitivity to noise and disturbance. This means that a calm environment is absolutely essential to their education and therapy.

Camphill authorities say that having the AWPR so close to the homes and the school is a big concern. At this stage Camphll says it simply does not have enough information to assure iself that the road will not have a damaging effect on the school and its pupils.

For that reason, Camphill says the only sensible position for the moment is to maintain their objection.

Camphill Estate has particular significance for the Camphill Movement internationally. It was at Camphill Estate that Dr Karl König and his colleagues established their first community for children with special needs in June 1940.

The Camphill Movement now extends to more than 100 centres with 10,000 people in 23 countries.

Camphill communities in Aberdeen establish joint identity
December 7, 2007

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The six Camphill communities in the Aberdeen area have come together to launch Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire to represent their shared interests.

Explaining the reason behind the formation of Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire, Dr Stefan Geider of Camphill Medical Practice commented:

“There are more than 700 people living and working in Camphill communities in the Aberdeen area. But, because these communities have separate identities, many people are not aware of the scale of their work.

“While the communities will continue to operate autonomously, Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire will help to represent the communities’ shared interests.”

The six Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire communities offer a supportive living environment, education and training, meaningful work, and personal development opportunities for more than 250 individuals with additional support needs. All receive medical and therapeutic services through Camphill Medical Practice.

The Camphill Movement, which has grown to become one of the world’s leading organisations working with children and adults who have special support needs, was founded in Aberdeen. The first Camphill community opened its doors to children with special needs in June 1940, on the Camphill Estate in the Milltimber area of Aberdeen.

There are now more than a hundred centres in 23 countries, providing opportunities for more than 10,000 individuals.

Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire represents:

• Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools, including Amber Kindergarten and Cairnlee House, is located on Camphill Estate in Milltimber, Murtle Estate and Cairnlee Estate, both in Bieldside.
• The Newton Dee Community, in Bieldside, Aberdeen.
• Beannachar Community near Banchory Devenick, just outside Aberdeen.
• Milltown in Arbuthnott, Aberdeenshire.
• Tigh a’Chomainn in the Peterculter area of Aberdeen.
• Simeon Care for the Elderly in Bieldside, Aberdeen.
• Camphill Medical Practice on the Murtle Estate in Bieldside, Aberdeen.

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools was recognised as achieving ‘sector-leading’ standards of excellence in a combined report by HM Inspectorate of Education and the Care Commission earlier this year.

• The Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire website is at www.camphillaberdeen.org.uk

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools – which was noted as providing “sector-leading” standards of excellence in September – has followed up with an outstanding score for the renewal of its Autism Accreditation, UK-wide scheme that recognises standards of provision for people with autism.

In carrying out their detailed review the assessors gave the school a consistent positive rating, with all items scored as “satisfactory”, “good” or “outstanding”.

This latest accolade for the Aberdeen school that caters for children with special needs, follows on from the publication in September of a combined HM Inspectorate of Education and Care Commission report that commended the school for “sector-leading” standards of excellence.

In response to a parents’ questionnaire issued as part of the autism accreditation assessment, the schools achieved a 97% rating as “good” or “outstanding” - with more than two thirds (67%) of respondents choosing “outstanding”.

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools is an independent voluntary school based on three estates at Camphill, Murtle and Cairnlee House in the Milltimber and Bieldside areas of Aberdeen. The school offers residential and day places for 88 pupils with complex special needs ranging from deprivation to autism.

Commenting on the inspection team’s report, Bernhard Menzinger, Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ education co-ordinator, said:

“To have achieved a positive score across all the areas examined by the Autism Accreditation team is a reflection of the dedication and commitment of everyone involved in Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools.

“The opinion of these professionals is supported by the feedback from the parents. We are so pleased to have had such a strong endorsement from them and to know that the school has made such a positive difference in the lives, not only of the pupils themselves, but for the families.”

In their report the Autism Accreditation team comment on the environment within Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools where pupils can feel safe and secure, with the daily rhythms providing reassuring continuity. The team also commented on the good team work, with sensitive, appropriate and unobtrusive support for the pupils.

Some 260 people live and work with the 88 children on the Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ estates. Pupils are referred to the school by local authority placements. Every pupil, whether residential or day, becomes a member of one of ten house communities.

Like an extended family, every individual contributes to the life of the community to the extent of their ability and receives their support in achieving their potential.

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools is one of six communities that are part of Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire. Locally, more than 700 people live and work in Camphill communities, while the Camphill Movement, extends to 100 centres, with 10,000 people in 23 countries.

The Camphill Movement takes its name from the schools’ Camphill Estate in Milltimber, where the very first community opened its doors to children with special needs in June 1940.

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ has a partnership with the University of Aberdeen to run the BA course in Curative Education and many of the students are involved in supporting the pupils in the school.

The Autism Accreditation, a peer review, not-for-profit scheme, instigated by the National Autistic Society with support by the Department of Health, sets out detailed and comprehensive standards for the education and care of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. It was the first scheme of its type in the world.

An MP, MSP and local councillors attended the official launch of a new ‘Tools for Self Reliance’ Scottish charity initiative today, Friday, September 28 at Camphill’s Milltown Community in Arbuthnott.

Sir Robert Smith MP for Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine, Mike Rumbles MSP, and four local councillors, Jean Dick, Tom Fleming, Bill Howatson and George Carr attended the launch of the Tools For Self Reliance scheme being funded by the Scottish Government. The initiative, set up by the Global Concerns Trust in association with the Tools For Self Reliance charity will see tools collected and restored in Scotland and sent to some of the poorest communities in Malawi.

The Tools For Self Reliance charity relies on volunteers to refurbish tools in the UK and send them to deprived communities in Africa. In recognition of the valuable work being undertaken, the Scottish Governments International Development Programme will be providing £20,000 of funding for tools to be collected and restored in Scotland. This funding will also cover shipping costs, education and training costs in Malawi, and allow for the opportunity to raise awareness of the scheme in both Scotland and Malawi.

The launch of this new Government supported initiative also marks the 50th tool kit that Milltown Community, a Camphill community that offers a home and meaningful work opportunities to adults with special needs, has sent to Africa. Milltown Community is one of four voluntary organisations in Scotland to take part in the Tools For Self Reliance scheme.

“We began restoring tools for the Tools for Self Reliance charity in 1996 " explained Richard Firth, co-ordinator at Milltown Community's Day Workshop. “It’s a great charitable scheme that gives communities in Africa the chance to increase their independence. This new link with Malawi is an exciting development that allows us to focus on one country, allowing us to really see the difference that we can make to the Malawi communities.

“Restoring tools is an excellent means by which to teach individuals who work in our Day Workshop  new skills and increase their self-confidence.  This is our 50th tool kit sent to Africa and the fact the Scottish Government has recognised the importance of our work is testament to the success of this project. We are delighted that our MP, MSP and local councillors could be with us to mark this achievement.”

Speaking at the event, Mike Rumbles, MSP for Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine said, “I am privileged to be here at the launch of such a valuable charitable project. I know myself, having seen the hard work that goes into restoring tool kits here at Milltown and the difference that these kits make to so many lives, that the investment by the Scottish Government in supporting this project is more than justified.”

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools is recognised as achieving ‘sector-leading’ standards of excellence in a combined report by HM Inspectorate of Education and the Care Commission, published today (Wednesday, September 12).

The Aberdeen independent voluntary school, which offers both day and residential places, and is dedicated to pupils with additional support needs, achieved excellence in three of the 16 standards. The report commends Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools for the quality of the pupils’ learning experiences along with its planned approach to promote self esteem, communication and social skills.

Laurence Alfred, Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ co-ordinator at the Camphill Estate, commented:

“This report highlights areas in which Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools sets standards that lead this sector – personal attainment, relationship skills, equality and fairness. These are key areas that we focus on as we help our pupils to achieve the education and social skills they will need for life. This is achieved in an inclusive safe setting where pupils live and learn along side co-workers and their families.

“The Camphill ethos is that everyone is valued as an individual and that they contribute the life of the community as respected individuals. By recognising the success of this formula, we believe this report shows this approach is as much in tune with the needs of our young people now as it was when Camphill began in Aberdeen almost 70 years ago.”

Bernhard Menzinger, Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ education co-ordinator, adds:

“This report confirms the high standards of the education provision at Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools. The inspectors looked in detail at the structure of our curriculum and our teaching methods. They also assessed the quality of the learning experience, attainment in key subjects and the wider personal and social development.

“I believe that one of the strengths of the schools is the way that education is integrated into the life of the school’s communities at our Murtle and Camphill Estates.”

Dr Stefan Geider of the Camphill Medical Practice adds:

“One of the key strengths noted in the report is the on-site integration of education, health and care. As the medical practice for all six Camphill communities in the Aberdeen area, we have particular understanding of the therapies and treatments for individuals with developmental problems and learning disabilities.

“Bringing the education, health and care together, means that Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools provides a comprehensive service. As this report highlights, the school’s services are highly-valued by parents, many of whom have tried other means to cope with their child’s difficulties.

“We hope this report will help to underline the quality and the importance of the service that Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools can provide to the wider community.”

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools is an independent voluntary school which offers residential and day places for 88 pupils with complex special needs ranging from deprivation to autism. It is accredited with the National Autistic Society who recognise the standards of its facilities for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders.

Some 260 people live and work with the 88 children on the Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ estates. Pupils are referred to the school by local authority placements. Every pupil, whether residential or day, becomes a member of one of ten house communities.

Like an extended family, every individual contributes to the life of the household to the extent of their ability and receives their support in achieving their potential.

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools is one of six Camphill communities in Aberdeen City and Shire and is part of the international Camphill Movement, which has more than 100 centres in 23 countries. The movement takes its name from the Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ Camphill Estate in the Milltimber area of Aberdeen, where the movement began in 1940.

Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools’ has a partnership with the University of Aberdeen to run the BA course in Curative Education and many of the students are involved in supporting the pupils in the school.

• The report can be viewed on the HMIe website at: www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/inspection/camphillrudolfsteinerschools.html