The Birtenshaw

Birtenshaw was established in the 1950s by a group of parents as a special school for young children with cerebral palsy. Today Birtenshaw provides a unique range of services for children and adults, with learning disability including Autism Spectrum Conditions and/or significant physical disability, including complex health needs. We run a Special School, several children’s homes a short break centre and provide a range of therapeutic health and wellbeing services. Birtenshaw’s Vision is “brightening lives, building futures” for people with a physical or learning disability and is based on the notion of ‘ordinary life principles’. We ensure the children and young people we support have the same learning and social opportunities as other children. We anticipate that the number, diversity and age range of the people we support will continue to grow over the next decades. Our challenge will be to continue to respond to their individual needs and to evolve our services accordingly.