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Prospectus 2016-2017

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Some of the comments written about

The Willows:

What a brilliant school – warm, genuine, interested

and committed staff who really care.

There is a

community feel

to the school. I

have enjoyed

working with

both staff and

pupils.

Not only a beautiful

building but amazing

staff.

It was a pleasure to

work with such lovely

children.

All the staff have been so welcoming and supportive and you have created such a positive learning environment for the children.

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The Willows School

A special school where every young person is treated as individual and encouraged to be the best that they can be.

We take pupils aged 7 to 16 with a range of moderate learning

difficulties including speech and language difficulties, children on the

autistic spectrum and children with emotional and behavioural

difficulties.

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Here at The Willows we have strong aims and

values and believe:

Every young person is a unique individual with their own

strengths and skills

Everyone has the right to be listened to and respected

Everyone has the right to be included - here at school, in the

local community and in society

Everyone should be encouraged to reach their full potential

We work better if we work together

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The Staff Team

Teaching Staff Mrs A Sanderson Head Teacher Mr D Atkinson Deputy Head teacher Mrs R Booth Assistant Head teacher; Maths Mr Holmshaw Head of Lower School; Computing Miss C James Head of Upper School; Lower School Miss A Perry Class L1 Humanities/RE Miss E Linkens Class L2; Music Miss A McClune Class L3 Miss Y Faulkner Class L4; Head of Expressive Arts Mrs M Simmonite Class L5; Head of Science Miss I Winson Class L6; Head of Art Upper School Mrs E Johnson Class U1 Head of English Mrs C James Class U2 (Head of Upper School) Mrs L Hunter Class U2 Mrs J Kavanaugh Class U3 Mrs Annesley Class U4 PSD Subject Leader Mr L Knight Class U5 Head of Physical Education Mrs J Moran Class U6 PHSE Subject Leader

Support Staff Office: Miss E Worrall Senior Administrator/Finance Officer Mrs S Smith Clerical Assistant / Data / Medication Mrs C Cooper Office Assistant Mrs D Ridge Clerical Assistant

HLTA,s: Mr M Scholey Mrs N Whittaker Mr S Tandy Mrs Hedley Pupil Support Team: Mrs C Hodgkinson Mrs. S Lockyer Miss A Cooper Mrs. E Pursehouse Mrs S Hedley

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Teaching Assistants: Mrs C Devine- First Aid Mrs L Butcher Mrs J Pope – First Aid Mrs Z Lovatt Miss B Lyne Miss C Sessions Mrs G Phillips Miss A Webster Mrs A Clarke Miss C Woolley Mr C Cartwright Mrs K Bilton Mrs K Elshaw Mrs Z Ross Miss A Buckley Miss J Higgins Mrs L Jackson Miss C Widdowson Mrs C Gamble Mrs S Briggs Miss G Hallam Mr J Stevenson Mrs J Finn` Miss D James

ICT Technician: Mr R Ibbotson Vocational Manager Richard Ellis Kitchen Staff: Mrs J Beresford Cook Mrs C Barrett Kitchen Assistant Mrs E Musgrave Kitchen Assistant Buildings: Mr J Waller Caretaker

Visiting Therapists: Mrs M Foster Education Welfare Officer Educational Psychologist Miss N Thomas Speech and Language Therapist Mrs D Bennett School Nurses Mrs J Marshall Occupational Therapist Mrs A Ramsden Physiotherapist Mrs T Fielding Visual Impaired Mr B Bell Hearing Impaired Mrs L Rowe Careers Officer

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The Governing Body

The School Governors play a major role in supporting and monitoring the work of

the school. Parent Governors are elected every 4 years and are there to

represent the views of all parents.

Name Appointing Body

Mrs A Gyte Chair of Governors

Mr M Fittes Vice Chair of Governors

Mrs A Sanderson

Mrs L Leivars

Mr J Moseby

Mrs J Wiggett

Mrs G Phillips

Mr N Smith Parent Governor

Mrs M Simmonite Staff Governor

Miss E Worrall Clerk to the Governing Body

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How is the School organised?

The Willows School has 2

departments:

Lower School for pupils in

Years 3 – 8

Upper School for pupils in

Years 9-11

Pupils work in classes with a

teacher and at least 1 Teaching

Assistant.

In the first three

classes most of the

lessons are taught

by the form tutor.

As the pupils move

up the school we

increase the

amount of time

they are taught by

Specialist

Teachers. In

Upper school most

lessons are taught

by Specialist

Teachers.

We feel that our pupils benefit from this gradual increase, rather

than suddenly moving from the security of being with one teacher.

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The School Day The school day starts at 8.55 with registration and ends at 3.25. The

lessons are 50 minutes long and run from:

8-55-9.05 Registration

9.05 – 9.55 Lesson 1

9.55 – 10.45 Lesson 2

10.45 – 11.00 Break

11.00 – 11.50 Lesson 3

11.50 – 12.40 Lesson 4

12.40 – 1.40 Lunchtime

1.40 – 2.30 Lesson 5

2.30 – 3.20 Lesson 6

3.25 Transport

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Term Dates for 2016 – 2017

School Opens Monday 5th September 2016

School Closes Friday 21st October 2016

School Opens Monday 31st October 2016

School Closes Friday 16th December 2016

School Opens Tuesday 3rd January 2017

School Closes Friday 17th February 2017

School Opens Monday 27th February 2017

School Closes Friday 6th April 2017

School Opens Monday 24th April 2017

School Closes Friday 26th May 2017

School Opens Monday 5th June 2017

School Closes Friday 21st July 2017

There will also be 3 In-Service Training Days: dates to be confirmed

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Useful Information Uniform

Here at The Willows we feel that the uniform gives our pupils a sense

of belonging. It is important to us that all our pupils wear the

uniform with pride.

The School Council helped to decide what the school uniform should

look like:

White polo shirt

Black trousers or skirt

Black shoes or

plain black

trainers

Lower School:

Maroon

sweatshirt or

cardigan with

the school logo

Upper School: Black sweatshirt or

cardigan with the school logo

The maroon and black sweatshirts are to

be ordered through Pinders School Wear.

They have two outlets, one in Rotherham Bus Station and one in

Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre. Alternatively uniform can be ordered

online at www.pindersschoolwear.co.uk. Reversible fleeces and white

polo shirts with the school logo on can also be ordered if required.

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Lunchtimes Healthy balanced meals are cooked on the premises each day. School

meals cost £10.25 per week and dinner money should be paid on a

Monday.

Alternatively pupils can bring a packed lunch. We run a healthy

lunchbox scheme and reward pupils who have a healthy lunch.

All the pupils eat together in the hall.

Milk & Snacks Milk is available to drink during morning break and costs £1.00 per

week. Milk money should be paid on a Monday if required.

The pupils run a healthy snack shop on Fridays as part of their

Enterprise activities.

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Travelling to/from school

Transport arrangements are assessed as part of the Statement of

Special Education Needs. Written details of pick up/drop off points

and times are sent to parents/carers by the council’s Corporate

Transport Unit.

Most pupils travel to school by school bus

Some pupils travel to school by taxi

Some pupils walk to school. Parents/carers drop their children

off at the school gate where a member of staff will be waiting

for them.

Pupils in Key Stage 4 access an Independent Travel Training

programme to help develop independence.

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The Student Council

Each class elects a

representative to the

Student Council.

The Student Council

meets at least once a

term and discusses

issues that affect them

and their school. They

make decisions about

what happens at school,

for example, they

decided on some of the school rules and the school uniform. They are

also involved in interviews for new staff.

They also choose a charity to support for the current school year.

At The Willows we value what the students have to say and the

Student Council is an important aspect of school life.

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School Rules

The Student Council decided on the School Rules and presented them to the whole school during assembly.

The Willows School Rules

Always do your

best to be kind

to everyone

No swearing

No fighting

No hurting other people

No name calling or hurting people’s feelings

No bullying

Respect everyone in school

Always come to

school ready to

learn

Wear school uniform

No makeup

No extreme hairstyles

No baseball caps

No chewing gum

No mobile phones

No jewellery (apart from small studs)

Always do your

best to learn

Listen to the staff

Follow instructions

Turn up to lessons on time

Do not walk out of lessons (unless this is part of an agreed plan)

Look after school equipment

Always do your

best to stay safe

& healthy

No running in the corridors

Move sensibly between lessons

No fizzy drinks

Make healthy food choices

Use table manners

No smoking

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The Pupil Support Team The Pupil Support Team is made up of experienced members of staff

with expertise in behaviour support, emotional well being, nurture

groups, theraplay and individualised learning. Their work includes:

Working closely with pupils, parents and outside agencies on

issues surrounding

social and

emotional well

being

Providing

academic

interventions for

pupils

Running the Listen

Up project, which

gives our pupils a

voice and allows

them a platform through which they can express any problems

or concerns

Working on individual health and hygiene issues

They are trainers in The Team Teach Approach, which relates to

behaviour support and intervention. They have been involved in

training all the staff at The Willows and also support and train

other schools in their use of Team Teach techniques.

There are 2 Qualified Theraplay Practitioners within the team

who lead sessions focussing on developing emotional well being

through structured play sessions

The Pupil Support Team provides a valuable service to all the pupils at

The Willows, as well as the staff and parents/carers.

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Teaching and Learning at

The Willows All our pupils have access to the National Curriculum, which is

modified in order to meet their individual needs.

Subjects covered include:

English Maths Science Computing P.E. PHSE Design and Technology Citizenship Art French Food Technology ICT R.E. Humanities Music and Drama

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The Willows has truly outstanding facilities and resources which

include:

A Science Lab

An outdoor horticulture area

A fully equipped Food

Technology room

A Design and Technology

workshop

An ICT suite

Indoor and outdoor P.E.

facilities

The Willows Vocational

Centre where pupils have

opportunities to learn

practical skills such as

painting and decorating and

bricklaying

The Willows Bungalow where

pupils have opportunities to

learn practical tasks in a real

life situation

A golf course

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P.E. We offer a wide range of

P.E. activities both in and

out of school including:

Football matches

with other schools

Basketball

tournaments

An athletics team

Boccia

championships

A boxing club

Cricket training

Visits to sports

stadia, e.g. New

York Stadium

After school sports

activities and clubs

Entry into the

Disport Challenge

Opportunities to

try out different

sports such as

bowling and cycling

A whole school

sports day at The

Institute of Sport

in Sheffield

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Food Technology In addition to learning about and cooking healthy food during food

technology lessons our pupils also have the following opportunities:

Cooking and eating their own lunch

Setting up a restaurant in school for parents and carers

Key Stage 4 pupils take part in work experience at The

Wharncliffe restaurant and The Brecks – preparing, cooking and

serving meals.

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Key Stage 4

When pupils reach Key

Stage 4 they are able to

access a more personalised

curriculum. There is an

Options programme that

changes on a termly basis

and allows the pupils to try

new activities and subject

areas, leading to CERTA

qualifications. Choices can

include textiles,

photography, childcare and

radio. The Options allow our pupils to choose subjects that inspire

them. Activities they can continue with throughout their adult

life and opportunities to try out possible employment pathways.

Again, all these courses lead to nationally recognised

qualifications and include Food Enterprise, Animal Care,

Horticulture, Radio Production and Brickwork.

There are opportunities for

pupils to take part in work

experience, for example working

in a professional kitchen and

waitressing. All our placements

are personalised to meet the

needs of our pupils and work

experience is matched very

carefully to the strengths of

individuals.

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Inclusion and Personalised Learning

We know how important it is

to treat every pupil as an

individual. Sometimes our

pupils need more support to

develop a particular skill or

talent, sometimes they may

need additional help in

specific areas of learning.

There are opportunities

for pupils to access

local mainstream schools to develop skills in subjects such as

Art. These Inclusion links are always supported by members of

our staff.

Sometimes our pupils need a more practical approach to learning

and an alternative curriculum can be designed to meet their

needs.

We work closely with the

Speech and Language

Therapist and have a

Communication Support

Worker in school who works

with students who need

extra support with their

speaking and listening skills

and in developing Social

Skills. We use a variety of

programmes to support this

work including: Time to

Talk, Socially Speaking, Talking Partners and Spirals.

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We have a Literacy Support Worker who works with pupils who

have been identified as having particular difficulties with

developing Reading and Writing Skills. We use a variety of

interventions that are always modified in order to meet the

specific needs of the young person including: Reading Recovery,

Toe by Toe and

Phonological

Awareness

Training, Lexia and

Project X.

Our Pupil Support

Team works with

pupils who may be

having difficulties

with social skills,

emotional difficulties and issues around self-esteem. They work

with pupils on a one to one or small group basis.

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The Enhanced/Creative Curriculum

We have whole school projects which allow us to be more creative and

imaginative. In 2016/17 these projects will take place each term

during a week when the usual timetable is suspended.

Some of the projects in the past years have included:

Medieval Week – pupils were split into mixed age groups and

took part in a variety of practical activities, a visit to a castle

and a medieval showcase.

Eggstravaganza – the pupils worked as secret agents and were

given tasks to solve throughout the week.

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Out of Schools Visits and Residentials

We know how important it is to

learn out of school as well as in

the classroom.

Many visits take place to support

the curriculum for example, The

Butterfly Farm, Yorkshire

Wildlife Park, Doncaster Airport,

Drax Power Station and

Wentworth House.

We also offer residential

opportunities. In the last few years

our students have had opportunities to

stay at Whirlow Farm, go camping in

Derbyshire and Whitby, have a

weekend in Bridlington and a school

trip to France.

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Fundraising and Enterprise

We feel that it is important that our pupils are given opportunities to

learn about money as well as raising funds for worthwhile charities

and school projects. We organised a catwalk event which raised money

for Barnardos.

We have various enterprise events including jumble sales, Christmas,

Easter and Summer Fayres, raffles and auctions.

The school recently raised funds

for a new minibus as well as taking

part in national initiatives such as

Children in Need, Red Nose Day

and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Student Council also

chooses a charity each year to

support.

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Assessment and Qualifications

All our students are working outside the expected range of

achievement and do not take SATS. We use P-levels and PIVATS to

assess pupils and show progress.

All our pupils are given the opportunity to achieve a range of external

qualifications in Key Stage 4 including AQA Entry Level Maths,

English, Science, ICT, Technology and Food Technology.

We also enter some of our pupils in GCSE Maths, English and Science

exams. We have links with Dinnington Comprehensive Art

Department which means our Gifted and Talented Artists can take

GCSE Art.

We run a number of vocational courses accredited through CERTA

leading to personalised CERTA Awards, Certificates and Diplomas.

We are very proud of the achievements our pupils make and celebrate

their success every year with an Awards Ceremony.

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Next Steps

We work with all our pupils and their families to ensure that an

appropriate pathway is available to them to support them in their life

long journey. We have a Transitions Support Worker who works

closely with the Connexions Service, our pupils and their families.

Most of our pupils go on to local colleges and we have developed

good links with colleges who offer appropriate courses

Some of our pupils transfer to 16 –19 provision at other Special

Schools

Some of our pupils go to Specialist Colleges

Some of our pupils go on to Training Courses such as “Entry to

Employment” and the LEAP project run by Morthyng.

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Other Information

Absence

Whenever a child is absent from school for whatever reason, parents should let

school know as soon as possible in the morning and a note should be sent with the

child on his/her return.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

We are committed to a policy, which treats all people with dignity, and respect,

which challenges stereotypes and prejudices and recognises that everyone is

different.

This policy promotes equality of opportunity for all members of the school

community regardless of culture, religion, ability, age, disability and need.

The school follows the Accessibility Plan and is in the process of developing a

Disability Equality Scheme. This means we try to make it easier for people with

disabilities to use the school. Our new building makes this much easier.

We consult with Inclusion Support Services about this and make sure staff are

trained in the use of appropriate aids and in the assessment and management of

the classroom environment.

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SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

The school is committed to a policy of inclusion: we believe all children matter.

The Governing Body believes that all children, regardless of ability and behaviour,

are valued equally at The Willows School.

We set out to:

Make sure that all children have access to a curriculum which meets their

individual needs.

Make sure we identify any child who may have additional educational needs.

Help every child reach his or her full potential.

Help all staff to take responsibility for recognising and addressing the young

person’s individual needs.

Encourage the whole school community to be positive about Special Needs.

Work together with parents to get the best out of our young people at school

and at home.

Make sure young peoples views are valued and listened to

Follow the Code of SEN Practice (2001).

ADMISSIONS

The Special Educational Needs Panel of the LA meets to discuss the appropriate

placement of Pupils with a Statement of SEN; admission to the school is agreed at

this level.

If the panel decide our school is the best educational setting for your child, he or

she will be admitted to The Willows School.

Following a look around the school your child will have the opportunity to come into

the school and meet other class mates and the teacher. Transition into the school

will be made as easy as possible.

RIGHT OF APPEAL

Parents who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place for their children may appeal

against refusal of admission. There are established arrangements for dealing

with such appeals.

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INFORMATION

The school has a publication scheme detailing what information is available to

parents and how they are able to access that information, complying with the

Freedom of Information Act.

Parents may request copies of this information subject to a charge for copying

costs and also the relevant copyright regulations of the DfEE and HMSO.

RAISING CONCERNS AND RESOLVING COMPLAINTS

From time to time parents, and others connected with the school, will become

aware of matters which cause them concern. To deal with such situations the

Governing Body has adopted a “General Complaints Procedure”.

The procedure is devised with the intention that it will:

o Usually be possible to resolve problems by informal means

o Be simple to use and understand

o Be non-adversarial

o Provide confidentiality

o Allow problems to be handled swiftly

o Address all the points at issue

o Inform future practice so that the problem is unlikely to recur.

Full details of the procedure may be obtained from the School Office.

GOVERNORS’ STATED POLICY REGARDING CHARGES AND REMISSIONS

FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Charges

Parents may be asked to make a voluntary contribution or pay the costs of the

following:

Board and lodging costs involved in a school journey.

Costs towards school trips for admittance etc.

The cost of repairs to buildings, books, equipment etc., when a pupil’s

behaviour results in such damage.

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If an activity cannot be funded without a voluntary contribution, this will be made

clear to parents in a letter or meeting, explaining the nature and educational

merit of the proposed activity. While there is no obligation to contribute to the

activity this could be cancelled if there are insufficient funds received.

Parents will be informed well in advance if there is to be a visit where charges

are to be made.

Remissions

If, after all voluntary parental contributions have been totalled and all the costs

calculated and paid, there is found to be a surplus, this will be divided equally

among the number of contributors and refunded to them.

If a parent has made a contribution and their child is unable to participate in the

activity, then that parent will receive a full refund of the contribution made.

The school will take into account the needs of a child whose parent/carer is in

receipt of income support, working tax credit, disability working allowance or

income based job seekers allowance and where applicable may consider the need

for a remittance for a residential visit.

The Headteacher is available to see parents, by appointment, to discuss any

anxieties or confidential concerns. Staff are always willing to help parents in any

way possible.

Child Protection

Everyone in the school shares the responsibility of helping to keep our children

and our young people safe by providing a safe environment for them to learn in

school.

We have many safeguarding procedures and the school has adopted the guidance

issued by the DFES ‘Safeguarding Children In Education’ and ‘Safeguarding

Children in Education: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings.’

The welfare of our young people is paramount and all our actions and decisions

are guided by this principle.

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Where to find us:

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HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT This home/school agreement is a ‘partnership agreement’ by which all parties will work hard together to achieve the best education for all pupils who attend Willows School. 1. The Parents/Carers

I/we will : Ensure that my child goes to school regularly, on time, dressed in school uniform, suitably equipped and not short of sleep. Provide absence notes or telephone contact when my child is away from school Let the school know about any concerns or problems that might affect my child’s work or behaviour Attend school to discuss my child’s progress. Support the school’s policies and guidelines for behaviour. Support and encourage my child in their work Get to know about my child’s life at school

Parent/Carer’s signature………………………………………………………………………………….. 2. The School will try to:

Encourage pupils to do their best at all times. Contact parents/carers if there is a problem with punctuality, attendance or behaviour. Achieve high standards of work and behaviour through building good relationships, developing a sense of responsibility and a respect for others.

Offer homework that is appropriate to the individual needs of pupils.

Inform parents/carers about the progress of their child. Inform parents/carers about school activities.

Headteacher’s signature…………………………………………………………………………………… 3. The pupil

I will try to: Attend school regularly and on time Bring all the things I need Do my best at all times in everything that I do Show respect and kindness to everyone I meet Follow the school rules – code of conduct Take care of the school buildings, grounds and equipment that I use. Come to school appropriately dressed

Pupil’s signature………………………………………………………………………………………

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The Willows School, Locksley Drive, Thurcroft,

Rotherham, S66 9NT

Telephone: 01709 542539 Fax: 01709 703198

e-mail: willows.school@rotherham.gov.uk

www.thewillows.rotherham.sch.uk