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Abbeywood School
Our school offer
Our aim is to provide pupils with a range of opportunities so that they can reach their full potential.
Key stages & education
We provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum for pupils studying at Key Stages 2, 3, 4 & 5. To support and enhance learning experiences we also provide enrichment activities through educational visits and field trips.
We believe in encouraging pupils' self-esteem, which is often low when they start with us, by ensuring the curriculum and tasks set are challenging yet achievable, thus enabling them to further succeed and develop.
Find out what makes our school unique
We provide unique learning opportunities for our pupils to help them engage with learning so that they can develop skills and grow in confidence to become proud members of our school community.
The on-site purpose built classrooms offer pupils the opportunity to develop skills and offers them a hands-on experience so that they are able to master new skills ready for the world of work.
Our aim is to provide pupils with an ever-growing variety of options so that they can explore different subjects, allowing them to experience new pathways in a simulated work environment. Subjects are taught by staff who have industry experience, which further enhances the quality and learning experience of the pupils.
Subject specific classrooms include:
- Hair and Beauty Salon
- Art Room
- Science Laboratory
- Food Technology
- Media Suite
The school follows a topic based curriculum which helps teaching and learning become more interesting, relevant and motivating. This approach enables pupils to make connections, transfer knowledge and build their understanding and confidence. This has ultimately resulted in continuity and comprehension of topics being more thorough, whilst pupils are able to apply critical thinking as they identify, categorise, compare and find themes.
The topic based curriculum facilitates the engagement of learning and allows for pupils to enjoy subjects that they previously did not. For example, the topic of Dream Big will see pupils exploring Martin Luther King’s speech in English, whilst in Art they create their own dream catchers. In history, pupils explore racism and how Native American Indians perceived dreams, whilst in Science they discover the galaxy and in Geography they plan their dream holiday destinations.
The topic based curriculum sparks conversations and provides pupils with the opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas and take ownership of their learning, resulting in the strong development of knowledge, skills and meaningful learning experiences.
We provide our pupils with opportunities to explore the local area in a safe and supported way so that they gain an appreciation of the outdoors and recognise the range of opportunities that it offers. The opportunity to broaden their horizons are presented in a variety of trips
For example, during one of many outdoor sessions pupils explore a local woodland area and build a shelter as a team. This requires them to communicate, familiarise themselves with their new surroundings and resourcefully use the natural environment surrounding them and the limited materials they bring with them. For lunch, they use skills learnt in Science to create a heat source and from Food Technology to cook sausages for everyone to enjoy. This camaraderie spills into the classroom environment and beyond, as their shared experiences provide foundations to build friendships.
To develop independent skills, pupils are given the chance to plan trips for their class and during the stages of planning they learn to negotiate with staff, present ideas to friends and understand the needs of individuals. The planning of trips also helps to reduce their anxieties due to their involvement throughout the entire process, which helps to build their confidence and assertiveness.
We actively encourage and embed a culture of positivity to provide pupils with a unique opportunity to reflect on their behaviours in a calm environment and openly discuss their thoughts and feelings with a chosen member of staff.
During circle time, pupils are given their chance to speak and take responsibility for their actions, discuss what happened, why they think it happened and move forward.
Positive reflection has had a positive impact as pupils learn to reflect on their behaviours and become more aware of their actions and the impact on others. Subsequently, they are able to develop and maintain friendships as well as self-regulate as a result of their reflection. Pupils grow to become independent and conscious about their actions, so that they can positively contribute to the school and the wider community.
We aim to provide children and young people with a portfolio of off site activities that will give them marketable skills in the workplace, laying the foundation for their future. The Abbeywood pledge is that each year pupils will build a portfolio of 30 off site activities such as music production, driving experiences and theatre visits.
Through these activities, students get the opportunity to experience the world and develop an array of skills that can help them transition into the world of work.
Futures
Whether our children or young people want to be an astronaut or an artist or anything in between, we are completely committed to helping them realise futures that are out of this world.
Developed in complete collaboration with schools, employers and young people, Futures is all about delivering unlimited aspiration and endless opportunity for every child.
Trust us when we say, your child’s future truly matters to us too.
Our therapeutic support
We provide young people with unrivalled levels of therapeutic support, both in terms of the expertise and experience of our in-school staff and the wide range of therapies offered.
Our therapeutic approach includes:
- As required, young people have the support of our Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists.
- Our commitment to delivering outstanding therapeutic support to all young people is based on attachment principles. We believe that unless a young person is able to feel emotionally secure they are less likely to fulfil their personal, social and educational potential.
- Our unique approach to supporting young people allows us to achieve uniquely outstanding outcomes, which in turn enable our young people to go on to realise a future filled with aspiration and achievement.
Our commitment to therapeutic support
We have an extensive Clinical Team, who are able to offer our young people within our school a truly personalised and comprehensive package of therapeutic support.
- We will ensure that every young person develops resilience and releases their potential by providing the appropriate clinical support for their social, emotional and mental health needs.
- We will support a young person to develop their competencies and abilities to help them become a capable young adult.
- We will completely integrate the delivery of therapeutic support.
- We will operate a direct delivery model of therapy offering universal services targeted to the needs of individual children and young people.
Staffing and pastoral care
Our staff have a wealth of experience and qualifications in teaching and caring for pupils with Special Educational Needs. They have also received training from Witherslack Group’s Clinical Team, which includes clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and therapists.
Teachers and teaching assistants are extremely well equipped in providing appropriate support to meet the needs of our pupils and establish a positive and engaging learning environment. The education staff consists of a stable and experienced team and the professional development of teachers and teaching assistants is supported through regular internal and external training. This ensures extremely effective teaching practices are in place and lesson activities are well-planned to support learning.
The Pastoral Care Team develop excellent links with parents, carers and families, as well as professionals involved with a pupil. They also provide additional support, when required, to help pupils engage in classes.
We are dedicated to the development of each young person, focusing on areas such as independence, self-esteem, resilience, making safe choices and communication.
All this support allows each child, whatever their needs, the opportunity to engage and enjoy their education.
The Pastoral Care Team ensures that all pupils’ well-being is constantly reviewed and developed, and that strong links are made between school and home.
Make an enquiry
Whether you are interested in your child attending our school or just want to know more information about our offer, contact our team.
Contact us