HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Sunfield is a
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
special school Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual d ...
, Children's Home and charity on the border of Worcestershire and the West Midlands in England. It was founded in 1930 and now supports boys and girls, aged 6 – 19 years, with complex learning needs, including
autism Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing d ...
.


General outline

Sunfield offers 38- and 52-week residential placements to students from across the UK, as well as day places to students from neighbouring local authorities. It supports young people with a range of learning and behavioural needs, including
Autism spectrum Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing d ...
Disorder (ASD),
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple con ...
(ADHD), Down syndrome,
Epilepsy Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activit ...
and Pathological demand avoidance Syndrome (PDA). Sunfield is on the list of Secretary of State Approved Independent Special Institutions.


Founding

Sunfield was established in 1930 by Friedrich Geuter and Michael Wilson, based on the principles of Austrian philosopher
Rudolf Steiner Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (; 27 or 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant. Steiner gained initial recognition at the end of the nineteenth century ...
. This impetus established Sunfield as one of the leading Curative Educational Communities in the UK. Fried Geuter, a co-worker of Dr
Ita Wegman Ita Wegman (22 February 1876 – 4 March 1943) co-founded Anthroposophical Medicine with Rudolf Steiner. In 1921, she founded the first anthroposophical medical clinic in Arlesheim, known until 2014 as the Ita Wegman Clinic. She also developed a s ...
in Switzerland, had come to the UK at Wegman's request to establish anthroposophical special needs education there. He and his wife, Maria, took charge of a home for children with disabilities in Kent. Fried was invited to lecture on his work to the anthroposophical group of Theodora Wilson, in
Selly Oak Selly Oak is an industrial and residential area in south-west Birmingham, England. The area gives its name to Selly Oak ward and includes the neighbourhoods of: Bournbrook, Selly Park, and Ten Acres. The adjoining wards of Edgbaston and Harbor ...
. Here, he was introduced to Theodora's son Michael, who was the second conductor of the British National Opera Orchestra and a violinist and composer. Some time later, Michael Wilson discontinued his musical career and Fried left the home in Kent. Together, they founded Sunfield in a house in Selly Oak, close to the Wilson family home of Elmfield. It was named after the original therapeutic home of Dr Wegman, the "Sonnenhof" in
Arlesheim Arlesheim is a town and a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. Its cathedral chapter seat, bishop's residence and cathedral (1681 / 1761) are listed as a heritage site of national significance ...
, Switzerland. A small Rudolf Steiner school was also started at Elmfield, run by Eileen Hutchins for the Sunfield co-workers' children. A considerable number of talented artists and other professional persons were drawn to the initiative including the painter and later painting therapist, Liane Collot d'Herbois; the musicians Mary and John Kobbe; Walter Braithwaite, Eileen Hutchins’ sister Shirley amongst others. Other early supporters included David Clement, well known throughout the anthroposophical movement, and Lady Cynthia Chance, whose family once owned Clent Grove, where Sunfield is now located, close to the new site of the Elmfield Steiner school in Stourbridge.


History

In the early days, treatment of disability was often ‘out of sight, out of mind’ but the team at Sunfield believed in pioneering a different, more holistic, approach to the care and education of disabled children. Throughout
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Sunfield continued its work and even accommodated the children of Elmfield school for a time. In 1947, Fried Geuter and Michael Wilson approached the anthroposophical mathematician and General Secretary of the
Anthroposophical Society The General Anthroposophical Society is an "association of people whose will it is to nurture the life of the soul, both in the individual and in human society, on the basis of a true knowledge of the spiritual world." As an organization, it is ...
in Britain, George Adams Kaufmann, to settle in Clent. There, Adams and Michael Wilson founded the Goethean Science Foundation, for the purpose of supporting anthroposophical scientific research. Olive Whicher also moved there to participate in this research work. Many other anthroposophical initiatives were also inspired by the work at Sunfield over the years, including the Park Attwood Clinic in Kidderminster, and Hawkwood College. Fried Geuter left Sunfield Homes in 1951, with his second wife, Isabel Newitt, who had been a co-worker there with him. They went on to found the Ravenswood community in 1953. Fried's son joined Sunfield and continued his father's work with Michael Wilson, who remained a director for 40 years after Sunfield's foundation. In 1954, Clive Robbins joined his wife Mildred at Sunfield. In 1958, an American composer and professor of music, Paul Nordoff, visited and was asked by Dr Herbert Geuter, the son of Fried Geuter, to play to one of the children and observe their reactions. The results inspired Nordoff to give up his academic career and devote the remainder of his life to developing music as a therapy. He and Clive worked together for the next 17 years to establish Nordoff-Robbins music therapy, which is still practised in many countries today. In 1962, Sunfield became the first home of
Emerson College Emerson College is a private college in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It also maintains campuses in Los Angeles and Well, Limburg, Netherlands (Kasteel Well). Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of Public Speaking, o ...
, which was founded there by Francis Edmunds, his wife Elizabeth who was working as a colleague at Sunfield, Michael Wilson and David Clement. They were initially joined by 11 students from the United States of America, New Zealand, South Africa, Norway, France and Britain. Emerson offered a foundation year in
Anthroposophy Anthroposophy is a spiritual new religious movementSources for 'new religious movement': which was founded in the early 20th century by the esotericist Rudolf Steiner that postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensibl ...
followed by specialised courses in
Waldorf education Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic, and practical sk ...
, Biodynamics and later other courses. At the time, the Stourbridge area was cited as being probably the area of greatest anthroposophical activity in the country. It included Elmfield School, Sunfield, Broome Biodynamic Farm and the Goethean Science Foundation. Many of the people involved in these activities could therefore be called upon as visiting teachers to the new college. During the summer of 1964, Emerson College moved from Clent to
Forest Row Forest Row is a village and a large civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The village is located three miles (5 km) south-east of East Grinstead. In January 2023, it ranked as Britain’s 3rd poshest village. His ...
. By 1968, a new hall had been built at Sunfield, as well as a specially designed pool for hydro and colour therapy. As Sunfield developed, the children were also encouraged to become involved in the growing of produce and animal husbandry at Sunfield's farm. Therapies involving play, painting, colour, music and movement and were researched and promoted. Michael Wilson himself pioneered colour therapy, water therapy, other artistic therapies, and assisted in the establishment of music therapy. Sunfield is once again closely associated with Steiner's principles and follows the principles of Practical Skills Therapeutic Skills Education (PSTE) method that draws its inspiration from the insights of Rudolf Steiner, John Ruskin and William Morris.


Arms


References


External links


Sunfield Children’s Home website
{{authority control Organizations established in 1930 Therapeutic community Special schools in Worcestershire Private schools in Worcestershire Schools for people on the autistic spectrum in England Educational institutions established in 1930 1930 establishments in England Boarding schools in Worcestershire