Cover Letter
The Chelsea Group of Children, an outstanding independent special needs school in London, wishes to open a second independent special needs school in Algarkirk, a small village in Lincolnshire. We hope to open January 2020.
The Chelsea Group of Children, established 1997
DFE registration number: 212/6001
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/27/131662
The new school will provide education and therapy to the same age range and the same profiles of challenges as the London school. The difference in approach will be based on a two-year project completed by The Chelsea Group of Children in partnership with Dr. Dawn Sanders, entitled The Nature of Experience. During these two years we found the natural world offered the most effective environment for emotional regulation and sustained engagement. The total enrolment of the school will be limited to 40 students, divided by academic ability, therapy and sensory needs, communication skills and emotional needs. Each group will comprise no more than 6 students. The Willow School will be unique in the approach of Project Based Learning in the natural world whilst following the National Curriculum.
The Willow School is not
a forrest school
a farm school
a play-based school (for Key Stages 1 and 2)
a school in which all lessons are taught outside
Differentiating for the widely varying abilities and challenges within the small groups of learners will be accomplished through project-based learning in the natural environment. The teaching and learning will be authentic, engaging, interactive and multi-sensory supporting children with moderate, often complex, challenges including emotional needs such as attachment disorder and PDA.
The curricula will be presented as over arching projects from which teachers create activities. The projects will integrate multiple subjects and each activity will offer a range of opportunities for different learning styles and levels of abilities. The lessons will be highly structured but flexible enough to allow child-led enquiry. The Projects will cover all ability groups between the ages of 4 – 11.
Every disability is different; even children with identical diagnoses are unique in neurological, developmental and emotional makeup and can present a range of differing complex needs. An individual and child-centred approach, building a teaching plan built on the broad profile of the student, best serves the complex child who cannot be taught using one age-level curricula.
I include three over arching projects and a sampling of accompanying activities, which offer scope for differentiating within the small groups, which are limited to 6 students.
Project: Selling Eggs from Our Chickens
Activity: Science: Observing and Recording in Grading Eggs
Unifying Concepts and Processes/Life Science/Science as Inquiry
Activity: Mathematics: One more and One Less
Activity: Mathematics: Pricing Eggs to make a Profit
Project: Illustrated Books Without Words
Activity: Visual Literacy; Hank Finds an Egg
Activity: Spirituality and Moral Responsibility: The Hero’s Journey in Literature
Project: The Story of Wool
Activity: History– The Lincoln Longwool and the Port of Boston
Activity: Art – Making a felt wall hanging picture
Activity: Design and Technology– Making a woven blanket for our library Reading Corner
Activity: PSHE: My Wooly Jumper; Clothing for Warmth and Protection
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Speech and Language Therapy
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Occupational Therapy
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Emotional Support
Therapy needs will drive the methods and modifications in teaching for individual students. We will have, as in London, full time occupational therapists and speech and language therapists on- site to assess and treat each student. The therapy team in London will oversee the plans for every student in Algarkirk through the individual digital portfolios and visits to the second school on a weekly basis.
As in the London school, therapy will be integrated into every aspect of the student’s day with therapists attending both structured and unstructured lessons and activities to determine the specific barriers to learning for each child.
The head teacher in London will oversee The Willow School, travelling to Lincolnshire every week; with all aspects of the teaching and therapy under her guidance. The deputy head teacher in Algarkirk will be trained in the London school and all new staff will rotate through the school in London for training.
Emotional Support is built into all aspects of the curricula and therapy provision. Direct input to support the child in resilience and self-regulation is provided by the London school’s psychologist and the Lincolnshire emotional team.
POLICIES
Please see our policies on the London school’s website www.chelseachildren.com
