For families
Your child.
The right school. The right support.
Information for families whose child is considering, or attending, one of our specialist SEND schools.
We understand the journey
Your child has things they're good at. Things they care about. A way of seeing the world that is entirely theirs.
They deserve a school that sees that too.
The schools we work with are for young people who learn differently (many autistic, many with high anxiety or social and emotional needs) who haven't found the right fit in mainstream settings. Not because something is wrong with them. Because most schools were never built for the way they think.
Finding the right school changes things. It might mean a young person joins a club they never thought they could. Makes a genuine friend. Walks through the door on a Monday without dread. Those things matter as much as any qualification, and the schools we work with know that.
If you've spent time fighting for the right support, the right placement, or just the right recognition of what your child can do, this page is for you.
What your child's school will look like
Every school we work with provides specialist provision built around the individual young person. Here is what that looks like.
A school where your child is known
Classes are deliberately small. Staff know every young person: their strengths, their interests, how they communicate, what a good day looks like for them. That level of individual attention is not possible in a class of thirty. Here, it is the starting point.
Staff who understand how your child learns
Teaching staff are experienced in working with young people with a range of learning profiles. These are educators who have chosen this work and know how to do it.
Therapeutic support that is part of the day
Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and mental health support are built into how these schools work. Not referrals to outside agencies. Not afterthoughts. Part of the provision from day one.
A curriculum built around your child
What your child is working towards drives what they are taught, not the other way around. Linked to their EHCP outcomes and to their interests, strengths, and longer-term goals.
A proper school
These are established, purpose-built educational settings, with school grounds, proper classrooms, and the facilities that matter. Not a converted office. Not a temporary site.
Ofsted-registered and inspected
Every school we work with is registered with Ofsted and subject to the same inspection framework as any other school. No exemptions, no exceptions.
How children are placed at our schools
The placement process can feel complicated. Here's how it works in plain language.
Places are funded by local authorities
The cost of your child's place is met by their local authority through the high needs funding system. You do not pay fees. The LA agrees the placement and funds it as part of your child's EHCP.
Your child needs an EHCP that names the school
To attend one of our schools, your child must have an Education, Health and Care Plan. The EHCP needs to name the school. If a placement is being considered, the school will be consulted as part of that process.
You have a legal right to name the school
Under the Children and Families Act 2014, you have the right to request a specific school for your child. The local authority must name that school in the EHCP unless it is unable to meet your child's needs, is unsuitable for their age or ability, or would be an inefficient use of resources.
The school works with you through the transition
Once a placement is agreed, the school will be in contact well before your child starts. Transition is taken seriously. More on what that looks like in the next section.
What makes these schools different
There are a lot of independent SEND schools. Some are run as businesses, with investors expecting returns. The schools we work with are not.
Schools with years of educational history
These are established school sites with years of educational use. They have the culture, the character, and the community of a real school, because they are one.
Charitable or not-for-profit
The schools we work with operate as charitable or not-for-profit provision. There are no shareholders. There are no investors to service. There is only the school.
Every pound goes into your child's education
Every pound the LA pays goes into staffing, resources, therapies, and outcomes for young people. That is where it stops. That is where it should stop.
Families and young people at the centre
These schools are not finished and handed to families. Families and young people are involved in how they develop and how they run.
That means parent and carer forums with a genuine voice, not a questionnaire at the end of term. It means children's views being sought and acted on. It means young people having the right to be heard at their own annual review. The schools we work with take that seriously, including for young people who find it difficult to be physically present in the room.
Transition and settling in
Starting at a new school is significant for any child. For a young person with SEND, it can feel enormous. The schools we work with take transition seriously.
Before the first day
Your child will visit the school before their placement begins. Where it helps, starts are phased, building up gradually rather than dropping your child into a full week from day one.
A named contact for your family
Every family has a named point of contact at the school. Not a general enquiries address. A person who knows your child's case and can be reached directly.
Regular, honest communication
The school provides regular updates, attends annual reviews, and keeps an open door. You will not have to chase for information about your own child.
The school works with families, not around them. If something isn't working, the school wants to know.
Useful links
These are independent organisations that support SEND families. We have no commercial relationship with any of them, they're here because they're genuinely useful.
IPSEA
ipsea.org.uk
Free legally-based advice for families who need help getting the right education for their child with SEND. Independent of local authorities.
Special Needs Jungle
specialneedsjungle.com
Parent-led news, information, and advocacy on special needs and disability. Practical and honest about how the system actually works.
Contact
contact.org.uk
Support and information for families of disabled children. Helpline, benefits advice, and a community of families who understand what you're going through.
Council for Disabled Children
councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk
The umbrella body for the disabled children's sector in England. Resources and policy information for families navigating the SEND system.
Have a question?
If your child has been referred to one of our schools and you have questions we haven't answered here, please get in touch.