Special Schools
An Education, Health and Care Plan or Statement is required to access specialist provision. To find out more about Education, Health Care Plans visit our ECHP page.
Wirral Special Schools
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Stanley School (Primary)
Stanley School has specialist expertise to meet the needs of pupils on the autistic spectrum and pupils with complex learning difficulties including those with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities. The school is registered and accredited by the National Autistic Society. The Early Years provision is accredited by the Effective Early Learning Project.
Further accreditation has been gained for Learning Outside the Classroom – an innovative approach to working with pupils.
Stanley School works closely with Pensby Primary School who are located in the same new building (2013). Pupil’s from both schools mix for a variety of activities. The school works particularly closely with parents and offers regular workshops to support them.
The school is equipped with a hydrotherapy pool, soft play, sensory room and extensive outdoor learning environments. The building is spacious and each class offers a variety of spaces for group work.
For more information, please visit their website
Stanley School, Greenbank Drive, Pensby, Wirral, CH61 5UE
schooloffice@stanley.wirral.sch.uk
Elleray Park School (Primary)
Elleray Park School has received outstanding ratings from Ofsted in its last two inspections. The school specialises in catering to the needs of students on the autistic spectrum, those with complex learning difficulties, and those with profound and multiple learning difficulties. It holds accreditation from the National Autistic Society and has received commendations for its exceptional provision for autism. The school's environment is tailored to meet the needs of its students, including a small, highly structured setting for some pupils, while others benefit from a larger, more vibrant environment.
The school also excels in providing education for students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and promotes a strong pedagogical basis for teaching and learning in this area. It effectively offers an inclusive education that contributes to the development of all children, whether they require separate specialist provision or not.
Elleray Park is committed to offering its pupils a wide range of opportunities and maintains a Foundation and a Year 1/2 Resource base in Egremont Primary School. The school collaborates with other primary schools in the Local Authority to provide inclusive opportunities for its students, fostering connections with their local community.
The school places great importance on residential opportunities, both within the UK and internationally, with strong links to schools in other countries. Elleray Park believes in the importance of parental involvement and provides support and training for parents and carers to focus on children's well-being, learning, and development.
The school is well-equipped with facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, soft play areas, a sensory room, and extensive outdoor learning environments.
Elleray Park School, Elleray Park Road, Wallasey, Wirral, CH45 0LH
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Meadowside School
Meadowside Special School Meadowside School is a specialist provider of education for pupils aged 11 to 19 with complex learning difficulties, communication and/or sensory needs, autism, ADHD and varying health conditions.
Meadowside School prioritises the health, safety, and dignity of all its pupils and students. They cater to individuals with a range of learning difficulties and associated conditions, including Autism, Down's Syndrome, and more. Many students also have additional health and care needs, benefiting from onsite nursing care and collaboration with other professionals.
Located in a peaceful setting, Meadowside School has a strong community connection and offers tailored inclusion programs at Woodchurch High School. They provide diverse learning experiences, including work placements, enrichment activities, and nationally recognised awards. The school boasts excellent facilities, including an immersive theatre, community room, ICT resources, a pool, and more.
The school is small but well-staffed with experienced teams, offering personalised learning packages and structured planning. A pastoral team supports each student, focusing on person-centered planning and emotional well-being. Meadowside encourages cooperation, teamwork, and problem-solving, promoting personal choice and autonomy. The curriculum emphasises self-help skills, self-esteem, and work-related skills, fostering a fulfilling life for all students. Visitors are welcome to learn more about the school through their website and in-person visits.
Pool Lane Woodchurch Birkenhead Wirral Merseyside CH49 5LA
schooloffice@meadowsideschool.com
www.meadowsideschool.com
Special Education Need & Disability
Social Communication
Physical Difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties
Speech and Language
Hearing Impairment/Deafness
Visual Impairment
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Neurological
Medical
Facilities and Accessibility
Free Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
Disabled Toilet
Foxfield School
Secondary age pupils who have complex or profound learning difficulties
Foxfield School meets the needs of secondary age pupils who have complex learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many of the pupils have additional and associated difficulties such as sensory impairments, physical difficulties, communication difficulties, an Autistic Spectrum Condition or complex and challenging behaviours. The school has a large multi-professional team of staff who provide a personalised education for each pupil. Classes are arranged to meet the different ages, needs and abilities of the pupils and vary in size between four and twelve pupils. A high staff: pupil ratio is provided in each class and therapeutic services are integrated into the school curriculum. The school offers a broad and enriched educational experience to each pupil including a wide variety of extra curricular activities. A great deal of importance is placed on the development of appropriate functional, social, communication and independent living skills. This leads onto the pupils achieving a range of relevant qualifications and awards as they progress through the school. Preparation for adult life is at the core of all of the work within Foxfield School.
Foxfield is a well equipped and resourced school which offers a range of specialist facilities. In February 2015 Foxfield moved into a new building which has been designed to meet the full range of special needs of the pupils that the school caters for.
Foxfield School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, Birkenhead, CH49 5LE
schooloffice@foxfieldschool.co.uk
Special Education Need & Disability
Social Communication
Physical Difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties
Speech and Language
Learning Disabilities
Medical
Facilities and Accessibility
Disabled Parking
Free Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
Disabled Toilet
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Hayfield School
Hayfield is a local authority, primary special school for pupils aged four to eleven. We strive to bring the highest quality of teaching and learning to pupils with social communication needs/autism, (including some with mainstream ability), or to pupils with moderate learning difficulties, (often with additional needs). But most importantly, we ensure that every child is respected and treated as an individual. We try our very best to see the world as the child sees it, and work from their starting point.
We have had National Autistic Society Accreditation for over ten years. We use a variety of approaches to ensure the children learn to the best of their ability, within a caring and close knit community. We provide structure, and routine, and an eclectic mix of specialist approaches, including looking at children’s sensory and emotional needs. We provide an interesting and exciting curriculum, that we hope enables children to grow up with skills for life, as part of a local, national, and global community.
Unicef Children’s Rights 23: A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life in conditions that promote dignity, independence and an active role in the community.
For more information, please visit the website
Hayfield School, Manor Drive, Upton, Wirral, CH49 4LN
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Clare Mount Specialist Sports College
ASD and MLD Secondary
Clare Mount Specialist Sports College is a community special school for pupils aged 11-19. All pupils have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health and Care Plan with primary needs of Moderate Learning Difficulties, Autism, Speech Language and Communication Needs or Complex Difficulties. Pupils follow a differentiated and modified National Curriculum, personalised to meet individual needs.
Clare Mount was the first secondary school in Wirral Local Authority to be awarded Accredited status by the National Autistic Society in 2014. Pupils with Autism as their primary need begin their time at Clare Mount in specially designed base classrooms with quiet areas, a learning support area, and a therapeutic sensory room next door. Their transition, which was highly praised by NAS, begins with most of their teaching in the base area and only when pupils are ready do they begin to move to specialist teachers and classrooms and follow a secondary school model. We have recently secured funding for a Sensory Garden and hope to have this project developing over the next year with help and ideas from our pupils.
Pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties all benefit from a highly structured, calm but stimulating environment created to enable everyone to reach their potential. Clare Mount students all make excellent progress whatever their starting point, and specialist staff are experts at removing barriers to education experienced by pupils with a wide range of difficulties. We support personal, social and academic development, maximise independence, and promote the acquisition of life skills to enhance the success of our students when they leave us
For more information, please visit the website
Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, Fender Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 9PA
schooloffice@claremount.wirral.sch.uk
Special Education Need & Disability
Social Communication
Physical Difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties
Speech and Language
Hearing Impairment/Deafness
Visual Impairment
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Meadowside School
Meadowside Special School Meadowside School is a specialist provider of education for pupils aged 11 to 19 with complex learning difficulties, communication and/or sensory needs, autism, ADHD and varying health conditions.
Meadowside School prioritises the health, safety, and dignity of all its pupils and students. They cater to individuals with a range of learning difficulties and associated conditions, including Autism, Down's Syndrome, and more. Many students also have additional health and care needs, benefiting from onsite nursing care and collaboration with other professionals.
Located in a peaceful setting, Meadowside School has a strong community connection and offers tailored inclusion programs at Woodchurch High School. They provide diverse learning experiences, including work placements, enrichment activities, and nationally recognised awards. The school boasts excellent facilities, including an immersive theatre, community room, ICT resources, a pool, and more.
The school is small but well-staffed with experienced teams, offering personalised learning packages and structured planning. A pastoral team supports each student, focusing on person-centered planning and emotional well-being. Meadowside encourages cooperation, teamwork, and problem-solving, promoting personal choice and autonomy. The curriculum emphasises self-help skills, self-esteem, and work-related skills, fostering a fulfilling life for all students. Visitors are welcome to learn more about the school through their website and in-person visits.
Pool Lane Woodchurch Birkenhead Wirral Merseyside CH49 5LA
schooloffice@meadowsideschool.com
Special Education Need & Disability
Social Communication
Physical Difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties
Speech and Language
Hearing Impairment/Deafness
Visual Impairment
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Neurological
Medical
Facilities and Accessibility
Free Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
Disabled Toilet
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Orrets Meadow
A Primary School for children with Social Communication Difficulties, including Autism
“To raise aspirations of every child and give them confidence to fulfil their potential through positive experiences”
Admission Number: 70
Age Range: 5-11
Our most recent Ofsted report, October 2017, found Orrets Meadow for the fourth consecutive time to be an ‘Outstanding’ school. In May 2019 we achieved Autism Accreditation. The report commends us for having the highest standards of provision for children with Autism.
We are a special school for children aged 5-11, who have an EHCP for Social Communication Difficulties including Autism. All of our children are working below age related expectation and have difficulties in reading and spelling. They may also have specific difficulties with maths, attention, social skills, speech and language, organisational skills, spatial awareness and fine/gross motor skills.
Orrets Meadow offers children ; specialist teachers in Autism, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, small classes of 8-12 pupils, tuition using multi-sensory techniques and a carefully structured approach with opportunities for reinforcement and revision. Our learning programmes and methods are tried and tested but are flexible and adapted to suit the needs of the individual. Positive mental health, developing resilience and building a love of school and learning, are at the forefront of everything we do. The 3 values for all our staff and pupils are; Work Hard, Be Nice and Never Give up!
All of our classrooms are ‘ASD’ friendly. Each class uses visual timetables, emotional thermometers to gauge mental health, has access to a sensory room and their own toilet and changing facilities. Sensory circuit runs every morning from 9-12 so the children can have as many sensory breaks as they require to help them regulate and be ready to learn. Each child has a pen portrait and a sensory diet profile.
Our policy is to re-awaken interest in learning, to restore the child’s confidence and self-esteem and to help every pupil reach his or her potential. At the same time, we provide a broad and balanced curriculum relevant to the pupil’s needs and abilities. Progress is carefully monitored in a variety of ways, including standardised diagnostic reading and spelling tests. At all time the pupil’s mental health is paramount and this remains a relentless focus for the school and all its stakeholders.
We work with many professionals to help remove barriers to learning including; School nurses, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Camhs Therapists. We use our Pupil Premium to fund both a Speech Therapist on site two days a week and weekly visits from Thumbs Up. We will also have our own full time Home School Worker. We have regular coffee mornings with a wide range of courses and visitors. Parents describe Orrets Meadow as being like their family.
Orrets Meadow also provides a number of traded services. A traded outreach service is available to mainstream schools for Literacy and Numeracy. Training for Teachers and Teaching Assistants can be provided, as well as advice and assessment expertise from a specialist team (SENAAT).
Orrets Meadow School – Literacy Outreach Team
The Orrets Meadow Literacy Outreach Team provides individual support for children with literacy difficulties and Dyslexia/SpLd. Support is provided by a specialist teacher at the pupil’s school. Suitable for primary and secondary age children with reading, writing, and spelling difficulties.
A variety of in-service training packages are available.
Orrets Meadow School – Numeracy Outreach Team
The Orrets Meadow Numeracy Outreach Team provides specialist, individual support for children with maths difficulties and Dyscalculia. The specialist teacher provides numeracy support for pupils between the ages of six to 16 years.
A variety of in-service packages are available.
Orrets Meadow School, Chapelhill Road, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 9QQ
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Wirral Home and Continuing Education Service
Young people with medical and/or mental health needs
A service for young people with medical and/or mental health needs
“The Home Education team are a great bunch of people who help so many children in the home or at a setting. My grandson has come on so much during his time with the service” – Carer of Year 10 pupil.
“My teacher is very patient and makes our lessons fun” – Year 10 student
A service for young people with medical and/or mental health needs.
The Home and Continuing Education Service (HCES) is a Local Authority (LA) service based in Pilgrim Street Arts Centre.
The staff are an experienced, enthusiastic and committed team of primary and secondary teachers. There are also teaching assistants and mentors. The HCES provides short term education for young people who are unable to attend their usual school because of their medical and/or mental health needs. The long term aim of the service is to support these pupils to receive as much education as they are able and to help them return to their original or a new school.
A large proportion of teaching takes place within the home; however, the service encourages its pupils to attend individual or small group lessons at the Home Education Base in Pilgrim Street. Pupils at all Key Stages are welcomed by the Home Education team. The service offers a wide range of subject areas at varying levels including Maths, English, Science, Animal Care, Art, I-Media, Functional Skills to name a few. Enrichment activities are also offered on a weekly basis.
ADMISSIONS:
The national guidance asks for dual referral: a medical and school referral. Medical referrals can come from one of the following: a paediatrician, NHS specialist consultant, Children, Adult, Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Psychiatrist or Senior CAMHS Therapist/ Psychologist.
Some places are paid for by the LA via the pupils Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Alternatively, the first 12 weeks of tuition are paid for by the services base budget after that the school pay for the pupil’s place.
Home and Continuing Education Service, 1 Pilgrim Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside. CH41 5EH
Wirral Hospitals’ School
“Working together to make everything better”
Wirral Hospitals’ School is an OFSTED Outstanding school (Nov 2014) comprising of Arrowe Park Hospital children’s ward (ward 52) and Joseph Paxton Campus.
Joseph Paxton Campus is a small school setting for children and young people, age 11-16, who are unable to attend mainstream school for medical reasons. All students will have been referred through medical services. The nominal roll caters for 80 students at KS3 and KS4.
All students have medical needs which usually involve aspects of mental health, e.g. anxiety, depression, self-harming, eating disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and personality disorder; these are often combined with developmental disorders such as Autistic Spectrum Conditions.
Provision at JPC is available for young people up to full time education. Where full time provision is not appropriate for a student, however, the provision can be directly tailored to the health and wellbeing of the young person in consultation with health and other professionals.
Admissions:
Students are admitted via a rigorous referral and panel system which considers medical evidence of needs. Referrals are usually initiated by schools, but students can also be referred by ESW Service, Educational Psychologists, CAMHS and Community Paediatricians, usually following an informal preliminary discussion with the Headteacher. Schools must be able to evidence a multi-agency approach involving specialist medical staff prior to referrals.
Please note: Wirral Hospitals’ School is a local authority service, not a special school. As such it cannot be named directly on a child’s EHCP and parents cannot request a placement at the school as part of the EHCP process.
Age Range:
Joseph Paxton Campus: 11-16
Arrowe Park Hospital: All ages
157 North Road, Birkenhead, CH41 0EZ
Gilbrook School (Primary)
Primary aged pupils with an Education Health Care Plan
Gilbrook provides a highly structured and supportive environment to meet the needs of pupils with a range of complex difficulties, including autism,which impact on their behaviours.
Pupils are taught in 7 small classes with a high staff/pupil ratio which aims to ensure that all pupils have support to manage their behaviours and are able to access the curriculum. The school encourages and supports all pupils to manage their problem behaviours and operates a behaviour modification approach which emphasises positive achievements and raises self esteem.
All pupils follow the national curriculum and make significant achievements. Gilbrook works with mainstream schools to support a return to mainstream education, where appropriate.
Gilbrook School values the relationship with parents/carers and works very closely with them and with many agencies. Parents/carers are supported by Gilbrook’s full time Home School Liaison Officer who ensures there is consistent and continued support for the many additional needs that pupils may have both in school and at home.
Gilbrook leads an outreach service providing support and advice to all Wirral mainstream primary schools, with the management of children displaying challenging behaviours. This can include Supporting pupils Mental Health needs, advising on appropriate environments and approaches to teaching of pupils on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and appropriate differentiation for pupils with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
Glebe Hey Rd, Birkenhead, Wirral CH49, UK
schooloffice@gilbrook.wirral.sch.uk
www.gilbrookschool-wirral.uk.org
Kilgarth School
11 to 16 year old boys with social, emotional and mental health difficulties
Kilgarth is a non-denominational secondary school for boys who are experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties. We form part of the Aspire Schools Federation and we work closely with Gilbrook School to promote our young people’s positive attributes and provide them with ambitious targets. The whole ethos of our school is based on care, responsibility and proactive behaviour management, where mutual respect is of prime importance.
During our last two Ofsted inspections, we were rated as outstanding in all areas; inspectors made the following comments about us:
‘For many pupils… starting at Kilgarth has been a ‘game changer.’
‘… pupils behave exceptionally well.’
‘…staff buy in to the vision and ambition that leaders have for the school.’
‘Your pupils and their families are of the opinion that your school transforms lives.’
‘Relationships are the key to success at Kilgarth.’
‘You go to great lengths to understand what might be causing worry or anxieties for your pupils.’
‘Pupils are exceptionally well cared for.’
‘There is extremely high morale within an exceptional atmosphere that nurtures pupils’ learning and improves their behaviour.’
Ofsted inspectors also commented that pupils make ‘good or outstanding progress’ which represents ‘outstanding achievement.’ This outstanding progress is due to high levels of support and outstanding teaching. Inspectors also noted that ‘Teachers and their support staff work extremely well to ensure that classrooms are welcoming and inspire learning. They ensure that pupils with complex learning and behavioural needs feel secure and welcomed when they come into class.’
Relationships between staff and pupils are exceptional and non-confrontational. As part of our uncompromising drive in pursuit of excellence we constantly strive to improve. Our high performing team has achieved national recognition, winning a number of awards over the past few years, including silver for the Pearson Teaching Awards ‘Team of the Year.’ Individual team members have also been recognised for their incredible efforts including for the ‘TES Inspirational Teacher of the Year.’ In 2015 our Chair of Governors received an MBE for her services to education and our Executive Headteacher was made an OBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Our ongoing achievements have provided us with unique opportunities for further improvement. We have advised both the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice and we are currently leading an exciting project to improve children’s life chances across North Birkenhead; this ‘Cradle to Career’ project is being supported by Wirral Council and several major philanthropists, including the Steve Morgan Foundation.
Kilgarth School, Cavendish Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 8BA
schooloffice@kilgarth.wirral.sch.uk
The Observatory School
The Observatory School is a mixed 11-16 community specialist provision for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).
The main aim of our school is captured in our motto, ‘Working together to reach our full potential’. To achieve this staff and pupils work closely together and rely on each other to ensure each member of our school community achieves the very best they can.
The highest standards in behaviour, attendance and punctuality are expected from all and our pupils continue to live up to those expectations, and indeed raise the bar continually.
To reach their full potential, our pupils have access to a fully personalised curriculum. An industrious work ethic is expected and our pupils step up to this willingly.
Our pupils are always at the centre of everything we do. We insist on high expectations for everyone, at all times. Strict adherence to our uniform is expected, our pupils designed the school logo and were consulted at every stage in the decisions made regarding uniform!
We are all committed to the ethos that positive relationships are the basis for happy, successful students. Ensuring that our school environment is always positive with a focus on pupils feeling they are safe and secure is essential.
The Observatory School, Bidston Village Road, Bidston, Wirral, CH43 7QT
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Hayfield School
Hayfield is a local authority, primary special school for pupils aged four to eleven. We strive to bring the highest quality of teaching and learning to pupils with social communication needs/autism, (including some with mainstream ability), or to pupils with moderate learning difficulties, (often with additional needs). But most importantly, we ensure that every child is respected and treated as an individual. We try our very best to see the world as the child sees it, and work from their starting point.
We have had National Autistic Society Accreditation for over ten years. We use a variety of approaches to ensure the children learn to the best of their ability, within a caring and close knit community. We provide structure, and routine, and an eclectic mix of specialist approaches, including looking at children’s sensory and emotional needs. We provide an interesting and exciting curriculum, that we hope enables children to grow up with skills for life, as part of a local, national, and global community.
Unicef Children’s Rights 23: A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life in conditions that promote dignity, independence and an active role in the community.
Hayfield School, Manor Drive, Upton, Wirral, CH49 4LN
schooloffice@hayfield.wirral.sch.uk
Orrets Meadow
A Primary School for children with Social Communication Difficulties, including Autism
“To raise aspirations of every child and give them confidence to fulfil their potential through positive experiences”
Admission Number: 70
Age Range: 5-11
Our most recent Ofsted report, October 2017, found Orrets Meadow for the fourth consecutive time to be an ‘Outstanding’ school. In May 2019 we achieved Autism Accreditation. The report commends us for having the highest standards of provision for children with Autism.
We are a special school for children aged 5-11, who have an EHCP for Social Communication Difficulties including Autism. All of our children are working below age related expectation and have difficulties in reading and spelling. They may also have specific difficulties with maths, attention, social skills, speech and language, organisational skills, spatial awareness and fine/gross motor skills.
Orrets Meadow offers children ; specialist teachers in Autism, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, small classes of 8-12 pupils, tuition using multi-sensory techniques and a carefully structured approach with opportunities for reinforcement and revision. Our learning programmes and methods are tried and tested but are flexible and adapted to suit the needs of the individual. Positive mental health, developing resilience and building a love of school and learning, are at the forefront of everything we do. The 3 values for all our staff and pupils are; Work Hard, Be Nice and Never Give up!
All of our classrooms are ‘ASD’ friendly. Each class uses visual timetables, emotional thermometers to gauge mental health, has access to a sensory room and their own toilet and changing facilities. Sensory circuit runs every morning from 9-12 so the children can have as many sensory breaks as they require to help them regulate and be ready to learn. Each child has a pen portrait and a sensory diet profile.
Our policy is to re-awaken interest in learning, to restore the child’s confidence and self-esteem and to help every pupil reach his or her potential. At the same time, we provide a broad and balanced curriculum relevant to the pupil’s needs and abilities. Progress is carefully monitored in a variety of ways, including standardised diagnostic reading and spelling tests. At all time the pupil’s mental health is paramount and this remains a relentless focus for the school and all its stakeholders.
We work with many professionals to help remove barriers to learning including; School nurses, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Camhs Therapists. We use our Pupil Premium to fund both a Speech Therapist on site two days a week and weekly visits from Thumbs Up. We will also have our own full time Home School Worker. We have regular coffee mornings with a wide range of courses and visitors. Parents describe Orrets Meadow as being like their family.
Orrets Meadow also provides a number of traded services. A traded outreach service is available to mainstream schools for Literacy and Numeracy. Training for Teachers and Teaching Assistants can be provided, as well as advice and assessment expertise from a specialist team (SENAAT).
Orrets Meadow School, Chapelhill Road, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 9QQ
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Clare Mount Specialist Sports College
ASD and MLD Secondary
Clare Mount Specialist Sports College is a community special school for pupils aged 11-19. All pupils have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health and Care Plan with primary needs of Moderate Learning Difficulties, Autism, Speech Language and Communication Needs or Complex Difficulties. Pupils follow a differentiated and modified National Curriculum, personalised to meet individual needs.
Clare Mount was the first secondary school in Wirral Local Authority to be awarded Accredited status by the National Autistic Society in 2014. Pupils with Autism as their primary need begin their time at Clare Mount in specially designed base classrooms with quiet areas, a learning support area, and a therapeutic sensory room next door. Their transition, which was highly praised by NAS, begins with most of their teaching in the base area and only when pupils are ready do they begin to move to specialist teachers and classrooms and follow a secondary school model. We have recently secured funding for a Sensory Garden and hope to have this project developing over the next year with help and ideas from our pupils.
Pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties all benefit from a highly structured, calm but stimulating environment created to enable everyone to reach their potential. Clare Mount students all make excellent progress whatever their starting point, and specialist staff are experts at removing barriers to education experienced by pupils with a wide range of difficulties. We support personal, social and academic development, maximise independence, and promote the acquisition of life skills to enhance the success of our students when they leave us
Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, Fender Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 9PA
schooloffice@claremount.wirral.sch.uk
Wirral Home and Continuing Education Service
Young people with medical and/or mental health needs
A service for young people with medical and/or mental health needs
“The Home Education team are a great bunch of people who help so many children in the home or at a setting. My grandson has come on so much during his time with the service” – Carer of Year 10 pupil.
“My teacher is very patient and makes our lessons fun” – Year 10 student
A service for young people with medical and/or mental health needs.
The Home and Continuing Education Service (HCES) is a Local Authority (LA) service based in Pilgrim Street Arts Centre.
The staff are an experienced, enthusiastic and committed team of primary and secondary teachers. There are also teaching assistants and mentors. The HCES provides short term education for young people who are unable to attend their usual school because of their medical and/or mental health needs. The long term aim of the service is to support these pupils to receive as much education as they are able and to help them return to their original or a new school.
A large proportion of teaching takes place within the home; however, the service encourages its pupils to attend individual or small group lessons at the Home Education Base in Pilgrim Street. Pupils at all Key Stages are welcomed by the Home Education team. The service offers a wide range of subject areas at varying levels including Maths, English, Science, Animal Care, Art, I-Media, Functional Skills to name a few. Enrichment activities are also offered on a weekly basis.
ADMISSIONS:
The national guidance asks for dual referral: a medical and school referral. Medical referrals can come from one of the following: a paediatrician, NHS specialist consultant, Children, Adult, Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Psychiatrist or Senior CAMHS Therapist/ Psychologist.
Some places are paid for by the LA via the pupils Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Alternatively, the first 12 weeks of tuition are paid for by the services base budget after that the school pay for the pupil’s place.
Home and Continuing Education Service, 1 Pilgrim Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside. CH41 5EH
Wirral Hospitals’ School
“Working together to make everything better”
Wirral Hospitals’ School is an OFSTED Outstanding school (Nov 2014) comprising of Arrowe Park Hospital children’s ward (ward 52) and Joseph Paxton Campus.
Joseph Paxton Campus is a small school setting for children and young people, age 11-16, who are unable to attend mainstream school for medical reasons. All students will have been referred through medical services. The nominal roll caters for 80 students at KS3 and KS4.
All students have medical needs which usually involve aspects of mental health, e.g. anxiety, depression, self-harming, eating disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and personality disorder; these are often combined with developmental disorders such as Autistic Spectrum Conditions.
Provision at JPC is available for young people up to full time education. Where full time provision is not appropriate for a student, however, the provision can be directly tailored to the health and wellbeing of the young person in consultation with health and other professionals.
Admissions:
Students are admitted via a rigorous referral and panel system which considers medical evidence of needs. Referrals are usually initiated by schools, but students can also be referred by ESW Service, Educational Psychologists, CAMHS and Community Paediatricians, usually following an informal preliminary discussion with the Headteacher. Schools must be able to evidence a multi-agency approach involving specialist medical staff prior to referrals.
Please note: Wirral Hospitals’ School is a local authority service, not a special school. As such it cannot be named directly on a child’s EHCP and parents cannot request a placement at the school as part of the EHCP process.
Age Range:
Joseph Paxton Campus: 11-16
Arrowe Park Hospital: All ages
157 North Road, Birkenhead, CH41 0EZ
Out Of Borough Special Schools
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Abbotts Lea
Abbot’s Lea School is an outstanding special school that provides the highest quality of education for students aged 4-19 living with Autism and a range of associated communication, interaction, social, imagination, sensory and learning differences.
I feel honoured to be our school’s Headteacher and want to reassure you that, as part of my role, and together with an outstanding team of staff, I will work tirelessly to ensure the best education and care is on offer at our school.
I have always practised an ‘open door’ policy and I really encourage you to take advantage of this – please contact me whenever issues arise – or just come in to say ‘hello’!
Our vision is to create an International Centre of Excellence in Autism Education, Research and Development, where every student and member of staff can be the best that they can be – we hope you join us on our journey!
Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool, L25 6EE
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Arden College
Arden College is situated in the heart of Southport, a vibrant and cultured town on the west coast of Lancashire. The college makes the most of its location, with a lot of the extended curriculum being located in vocational settings within the community.
As a specialist day and residential college for students aged 16-25 years with learning difficulties and disabilities and/or behavioural and social difficulties, Arden College provides individual programmes of support either as 38 or 52 week placements for up to three years.
The college has designed its curriculum to develop, and support, the communication skills that are fundamental to effective learning. The student cohort has changed over the last few years and the number of learners presenting complex support needs has increased. Many students have significant communication issues which could impact on their opportunity to take part in a meaningful programme of study. It is recognised that the expectation for these students rely on different routes and outcomes if the college is truly going to meet their needs.
With a dedicated team of staff, we provide every young person with a personalised programme of education, care, leisure, life skills and training to enable them to live as independently as possible and make their own life choices. The college also offers a wide range of work experience placements which may also lead to paid or voluntary work opportunities.
40 Derby Road, Southport PR9 0TZ, United Kingdom
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Bank View
Bank View School moved to its current site in September 2015. It is a purpose built secondary school for 174 pupils with complex learning difficulties. All our students have an education, health and care plan.The majority of our students have a moderate learning difficulty plus an additional need, for example ASD or ADHD.
In January 2017 we opened BankView@ Croxteth Primary School to provide 8 primary assessment places.
From September 2017 we were excited to welcome our first two primary classes. One based at Bank View and the other at Croxteth.
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Bank View High School, 177 Long Lane, Liverpool L9 6AD, United Kingdom
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Mill Green
Our school provides a quality, safe and inclusive education for all our students that fosters a true sense of belonging. We enable our young people to fulfil their potential by providing an effective balance between academic study, vocational experience and opportunities to develop their life-skills.
All of this can only be achieved by our students, staff, parents and wider stakeholders working together in partnership to ensure Mill Green students are well prepared for lifelong learning and the world of work.
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Lansbury Avenue, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 1BU
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The Mulberry Bush School
The Mulberry Bush School supports children with severe social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The children we help come to us with a wide range of needs and a variety of diagnoses. Many of the children can broadly be described as having an attachment disorder of some kind while other diagnoses may include: Attachment Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Challenging Behaviours Complex Needs Complex Trauma Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) Learning Difficulties Mental Health Conditions Mental Health Needs Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)
The Mulberry Bush School is an acclaimed therapeutic residential special school for children with severe social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. These are children who have suffered early trauma, neglect and abuse and their behaviours are often very high risk, chaotic, aggressive and/or sexualised.
The School is in Oxfordshire and is a non-maintained residential special school. It provides 38 week therapeutic care, treatment and education for boys and girls aged 5-13 from across the country. The school also works with the families of children placed, in order to support a successful and stable home base for the whole family.
The Mulberry Bush School provides individualised care, treatment and education plans, overseen, in each case, by a multidisciplinary treatment team of highly trained professional staff, including a therapist.
The service comprises of group living in residential households, National Curriculum education, group and individual drama and music therapy, individual psychotherapy, group work, family work, VIG work, family therapy, training and consultation, as appropriate to meet identified needs. All parts of the service are located on one outstanding site.
The School can also work closely with carefully selected foster care providers to form 52 week packages.
Mulberry Bush is a charity and so is not for profit. It continues to guarantee a 0% fee increase for children once placed, for the duration of their placement.
The School’s Statement of Primary Task is:
‘To help primary aged children who have been unable to live in a family or learn in school, who have deep and complex emotional troubles and have developed antisocial ways of being, to discover helpful ways of living with themselves and others and to see themselves as learners and achievers.’
For further information please see our Information Booklet
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Witney OX29 7RW, United Kingdom
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Palmerston School
Palmerston is an outstanding school that provides high quality education for pupils aged 11-19.
We believe that all young people should experience a learning environment which nurtures, supports and challenges them to develop their independence skills, to be happy and confident.
The positive relationships we have built between pupils, staff, governors, parents and our neighbouring community are highly valued and now we are fully established on our new site we look forward to building on these.
We place great emphasis on developing independence and communication skills and have the highest expectations of our pupils encouraging them to achieve their goals no matter how big or small
Palmerston School, Minehead Road, Aigburth, L17 6AU
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Redbridge High
At Redbridge High School our aim is to provide outstanding educational provision that will also encompass the holistic needs of pupils, aged 11 – 19 with SLD, PMLD and any additional needs particularly ASD. We will deliver this through a flexible skilled workforce in an inclusive caring environment that has pupils at its centre.
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179 Long Lane, Fazakerley, Walton, Liverpool L9 6AD, United Kingdom
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Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool
Children/Young People
We are a non-maintained special school for Multi-Disabled Visually Impaired pupils aged 3-19. We offer day and residential places.
Capacity – 66 in school with residential provision for up to 20 pupils.
We offer day places, weekly boarders , respite places and an after school club for our pupils.
Church Road North, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 6TQ
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St Vincent’s School
Pupils from 4-19 years of age with sensory impairment and other needs
St Vincent’s School is non maintained outcomes focused special school offering both day and residential provision for pupils from 4-19 years of age with sensory impairment and other needs, on a weekly term time basis.
We provide a safe environment in which high standards of education and care are provided.
Pupils enjoy full access to the National Curriculum and an extended, enriched curriculum, ensuring specific needs are met.
Pupils are taught in small class groups by qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired and are supported by experienced and qualified Learning Support Assistants.
Our Mobility Officers provide individually tailored, mobility and orientation sessions to all pupils.
Free Inclusive Sports Club July 2016
Free swimming for visually impaired children and young people
St Vincent's School Yew Tree Lane West Derby Liverpool L12 9HN
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Sandfield Park
We are one school with three educational sites that individually serve the needs of young people with a wide range of physical, medical, emotional and learning difficulties.
We work with children on three main sites:
Sandfield Park School
The Hospital School at Alder Hey
Alder Centre for Education (ACE)
Each of our sites has its own unique character. Sandfield Park caters for pupils with physical disabilities and a wide range of associated learning difficulties. The Hospital School situated at Alder Hey teaches children who are patients on the hospital wards. The Alder Centre for Education formerly ‘Medical Needs Education Support’, ACE provides an education for students who live in Liverpool and cannot attend their own school for medical reasons.
Sandfield Park School, South Drive, Sandfield Park, Liverpool, L12 1LH
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Olsen House School
Boys and girls aged nine to 16 years who are struggling with social, emotional & behavioural problems with or without mental health difficulties. The school supports children and young people with various educational and social needs, including those with ADHD, ASC, ODD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Olsen House School is an independent school in Liverpool, registered with Ofsted for boys and girls aged seven to 16 years who are struggling with social, emotional & behavioural problems with or without mental health difficulties. The school supports children and young people with various educational and social needs including those with ADHD, ASC, ODD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
The school follows the National Curriculum where it is deemed appropriate and personalises timetables for all pupils.
Pupils are supported in very small class sizes and the curriculum is tailored to meet their needs and abilities. Their individual curriculum is designed to take each individual pupils own educational needs into account and maximise their opportunities for success. Pupils can enjoy a wide range of learning opportunities with a range of qualifications including GCSE’s and BTEC.
The schools therapeutic offer includes solution focus brief therapy with trained key workers, an educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, lego therapy and where needed occupational therapy. The focus of the therapeutic support is to help the pupils to reach their potential and give them the best opportunities to develop skills for adulthood. Pupils may be identified as benefiting from assessment with one of our therapists as early as during their transition induction period.
At Olsen House we have a value-based approach to education and we focus strongly on pupil development and give them the best opportunities to do so.
85-87 Liverpool Road, Crosby L23 5TD, United Kingdom
Out of Area Special Schools
Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014 allows the Secretary of State by order to publish a list of approved independent educational institutions, independent special schools and post-16 institutions for the purposes of satisfying Section 38 (Preparation of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan by local authorities) of the Act. Institutions can only be included on the list with their consent.