Type of service: Day schools, Nursery and pre-schools, Schools, Respite and short breaks

Willow Dene is a large primary special school which aims to provide high quality education for pupils with a range of learning disabilities severe, profound/multiple, complex medical needs and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). All our pupils have either an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) or a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN). All applicants are referred to the Willow Dene SEN panel and places are allocated following a discussion by a multi-disciplinary team. Most pupils with autism are taught in ASD specific classrooms but some are taught in mixed groups depending on their primary need. Groups for children with ASD have between 6-8 children, each with a teacher, senior teaching assistant (STA) and at least two support assistants (LSA's). At Willow Dene we use a variety of approaches and interventions to support our pupils including Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Intensive Interactions, Attention Autism, Sensory Circuits/Diets and Team Teach. Our new build programme will be completed by 2015. In our new school we will have a swimming pool, sensory suite, ball pool and rebound therapy room. Willow Dene is in partnership with Horn Park, Deansfield and South Rise Primary Schools. The partnership is unique as there are no known partnerships of this kind that link special and mainstream schools. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils.

Aimed at: Child

Other specialisms: Learning disability

Level: NAS Autism Accreditation - Accredited

Year: 2017