The Meadows Academy, a specialist SEMH school for young people aged 11–16, has achieved recognition for its commitment to supporting pupils with asthma.
The Meadows Academy provides education for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, including conditions such as autism and ADHD. Guided by its ethos of “Belonging, Becoming, Beyond,” the academy is dedicated to ensuring every pupil feels supported, valued, and able to thrive, regardless of the challenges they face.
As part of this commitment to inclusion, the school recently turned its focus to asthma—a condition that has historically impacted attendance and wellbeing for a number of its students. Staff identified that some pupils with asthma had missed significant amounts of education due to their condition, prompting an important question: what more could be done within the school environment to better support these young people?
Leading this initiative was the academy’s Asthma Champion, Chelsea Pattison. With support from the Beat Asthma programme—an initiative designed to help schools improve asthma care and awareness in their communities—Chelsea developed and implemented a comprehensive plan to enhance asthma support across the school. Working closely with both staff and students, Chelsea ensured that asthma care became a whole-school priority. This included raising awareness, improving staff confidence in supporting pupils with asthma, and creating a more responsive and inclusive environment for those managing the condition daily.
The impact of this work has now been formally recognised. The Meadows Academy has been awarded the Beat Asthma Friendly Schools Award, a significant achievement that highlights the school’s dedication to improving the health, attendance, and overall experience of its pupils.
The Principle of The Meadows Academy says, “At The Meadows Academy, we believe that every young person deserves to feel they belong and to have the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. By strengthening our approach to asthma care, we are removing barriers and helping our students move beyond the challenges they face.”
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
