VALs | About Us – VAL's Community

About Us

We know that we cannot replace a parent, and quite frankly it would be wrong to try. What we can do however is understand that due to certain needs of a young person and their families, residential care becomes their best option.

We look after children and young people who have moderate to severe learning disabilities and complex needs and we are committed to trying, caring, and working with our young people.

We recognise every young person is different and should be treated as an individual and are devoted in our duty to responsibly educate, nurture and support the young people in our home.

We want to provide opportunities for each young person to be the best they can be and lead happy fulfilling lives, despite the challenges they may have faced through their childhoods so far.

THE PINES

The Pines is a residential children’s home in a small village in South Wales.

It provides a scenic and calming space for the children within the surrounding valleys. The team at The Pines look after children with some of the most complex needs across VAL’s Community.

ASPIRATION HOUSE

At Aspiration House we know that we cannot replace a parent. What we can do however is understand that due to certain needs of a young person and their families, residential care and school becomes their best option.

We are committed to trying, caring, and working with our young people who have very complex and life limiting disabilities.

IVIE LODGE

Ivie Lodge is a residential children’s homes caring for very complex young people with learning disabilities.

Offering medium to long-term placements, we aim to help young people return to their families wherever appropriate or support them to achieve a permanent long-term placement once they leave our care.

HARLESCOTT HOUSE

Harlescott House is a beautiful period property set within extensive grounds that provides both space and time for children to play, enjoy and grow in.

One of the greatest strengths of Harlescott House is its semi-rural location, offering safety in a small community for children and young people who have moderate to severe learning disabilities and complex needs.

TARREN SCHOOL AND MILL HAVEN

In Wales, our children living at The Pines also access our school, which operates across two sites - Tarren School and Mill Haven.

The school holds one registration with Estyn to cover both locations, where we are determined to develop a valuable culture of professional learning, which helps staff to understand and support pupils’ needs.

Aspiration House School

At Aspiration House School, we support the learning of young children who live with us at our residential home next door and also accommodate day students.

We offer a bespoke and outcome driven education pathway for our children who may never be able to access mainstream education due to their disabilities.

We pride ourselves on providing an education curriculum that is specific to their needs and helping them achieve goals determined by their own capabilities and abilities.

HARLESCOTT HOUSE SCHOOL

Harlescott House School is a beautiful one-of- a-kind Eco School set within Harlescott House.

It is a semi-rural location for children and young people who have moderate to severe learning disabilities and complex needs.

The school has access to extensive grounds to provide a nurturing learning environment with a vision to having an onsite Forestry School ran by our own dedicated teachers.

Our Ofsted Feedback

“Staff care deeply about each pupil. They understand each pupil’s strengths and needs. They make sure that all pupils are safe at school.”

“Leaders have established a coherent, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that is being implemented effectively.”

“Parents and external professionals have confidence in the care provided. They say children are happy and that they have positive relationships with staff.”

“Children take pride in their appearance, which contributes to the development of their self-esteem.”

“The home has managed their son’s behaviour well. He is now able to use strategies to manage his feelings.”

“The manager supports and challenges staff, in a thoughtful way, to support their progress and development. This helps staff to progress with their learning and development.”

“The recruitment of new staff is managed well and designed to safeguard children. Safe recruitment practices and protocols are followed. This means that new staff are only employed subject to clear vetting processes. This reduces the risk of unsuitable adults working in the home.”

“Feedback from a placing social worker is very positive. They state that the care shown to their child is ‘impressive’ and that the child has positive relationships with the staff.”

“Children are welcomed in a planned, sensitive manner. One child who has recently moved in said, ‘Moving in was good. I like the staff, they are really nice.’ This helps children to develop a sense of belonging and self-esteem.”