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welcome TO ACORN SCHOOL

We are an independent co-educational school which provides a supportive learning environment for Pupils from Key Stage 2-4 with Social, Emotional, Mental Health difficulties, Autism and/or Specific Learning Difficulties.

I am privileged to be the Headteacher of this nurturing school, where the individual Child is at the heart of what we do. We recognise that every Pupil is different, yet equal, and all Team Members are committed to treating each individual with inclusion, compassion and understanding. We understand that every Pupil will have different needs and offer a safe and encouraging learning environment where Pupils can feel supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.

At Acorn School we aim to help our Pupils to overcome their individual challenges by supporting them with underlying difficulties that may be leading to displays of frustration. A carefully planned and bespoke curriculum, which includes social development as well as academic and vocational learning allows our Pupils to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Pupils are at the heart of Acorn School. The school’s ambition for Pupils to succeed and flourish is exceptional. Pupils overcome many significant challenges because the school enables them to be resilient and persistent when faced with difficulties. Pupils reflect, with a sense of pride and positivity, the impact the school has on them so that they can achieve aspirational future goals.
OfstedJanuary 2024
Pupils are fully accepting of the diverse needs of their peers. They are encouraged to extend this to diversity and cultural awareness in a much wider sense. Pupils confidently embody tolerance and respect for difference, reflected in one Pupil’s words: ‘I like everyone for who they are. They’re human at the end of the day.’
OfstedJanuary 2024
Pupils benefit from a highly individualized curriculum. It requires Team Members to have precise and detailed knowledge and understanding of each Pupil.
OfstedJanuary 2024
The school encourages Team Members to have a reflective approach and to work collaboratively. This ensures that the wealth of expertise that the team have is used as effectively as possible. For example, Team Members continually share best practice, and the Integrated Therapy Team work closely with Team Members to strengthen their approach to each Pupil’s education.
OfstedJanuary 2024
Pupils learn a wide range of subjects and have a rich set of enrichment opportunities to hone and strengthen their talents and interests. There is a well-considered, coherent design to this provision.
OfstedJanuary 2024
Team Members challenge low-level behaviour exceptionally well. They are calm, empathetic and unintrusive when supporting Pupils who are struggling. Pupils can then focus on their learning and development because they are calm and regulated. Consequently, Pupils want to be in school.
OfstedJanuary 2024

Zoey Shelley
MBA, QTLS, NPQEL 
Executive Headteacher

  • Smaller class sizes of: 1 Teacher, 1 Teaching Assistant & 4 Pupils
  • 42 places, mixed gender
  • In-house integrated therapies team
  • Key stage 2-4
  • 1:1 support available
  • Broad and balanced curriculum offer
download our prospectus

TAKE THE TOUR

DELIVERING OUR VALUES

At Acorn School, the individual needs of our Pupils are at the heart of all that we do.

We work closely with our Pupils, their families and professionals to create bespoke programmes of learning, which are tailored to their education, social and emotional needs, supporting them to achieve their full potential. This means that we deliver a personalised curriculum, which, where possible, acknowledges the national curriculum and meets the individual needs of our Pupils, whilst also supporting them to meet the outcomes identified in their EHCPs.

To achieve this, every Pupil has an individual Pathway Plan and Provision Map which identifies their areas of need and how we can best address them, both in terms of Team Member approach and the curriculum that they are provided.  Our goal is to provide access to the best academic outcomes possible as well as preparing our Pupils for adulthood and the next stage of their education by equipping them with the skills required to achieve personal success.

Equality and Inclusion

GALLERY

OUR CORE OFFER

Acorn School supports Pupils between the ages of 8 and 16 who have difficulties with their social, emotional and mental health, as well as other complex needs often associated with Autism, Attachment & Trauma .

At Acorn School we aim to provide a caring learning environment where Pupils can experience positive learning opportunities that will enable them to develop their full potential socially, emotionally, academically and physically. We aim for our Pupils to develop their feelings of self-worth, grow intellectually, build positive relationships and develop their life and social skills in order that they will become happy, confident and valued members of society.

Our therapeutic core offer

  • Have high expectations of our Pupils.
  • Create a safe and positive learning environment in which Pupils can learn effectively.
  • Provide all Pupils with a broad range of subjects and qualifications, including GCSEs.
  • Provide opportunities for Pupils to develop their interests and skills through a range of extra-curricular activities and experiences.
  • Ensure good home-school relationships in order to enable parents and carers to play their part in the education of their children.
  • We are a specialist provision and we create bespoke packages for Pupils with complex SEMH difficulties.
  • We tailor our curriculum to ensure that it meets the need of Pupils with SEMH difficulties.
  • We are a truly therapeutic school and we have an in house therapy team who can support the special educational needs of our Pupils.
  • Offer a range of interventions to support Pupil progress in all areas.
  • We develop strong  relationships with a variety of stakeholders and  outside agencies in order to support Pupils throughout their time at school and  through periods of transition.
  • We foster values-based curriculum which helps Pupils grow in confidence, creativity and self-control.
  • We are an attachment aware school and successfully address barriers to learning so that academic attainment, health and well-being are improved.
  • We believe that all behaviour is communication and aim to understand the out Pupil’s needs in order that we can meet them effectively.
  • We use restorative approaches in order to help Pupils understand their place in the world and help them to develop  the skills and mental agility they need in order be forge positive relationships, cope with conflict and rebuild friendships if problems arise.
  • Small group teaching:  Maximum of 4 Pupils per class with LSA support.
  • 1:1 and small group intervention work, transitional support and exam preparation for up to 2 hours per week.
  • Rigorous Academic Progress Tracking and Assessment through the use of B squared tracking software.
  • Baseline Developmental Assessments and Progress Tracking, including initial Motional or Boxall Profiling.
  • Thrive style and attachment-based interventions and approaches embedded throughout the curriculum.
  • Personalised Reward Scheme linked to the school token economy.
  • Targeted Literacy and Numeracy interventions
  • Specialist Differentiated Teaching
  • Termly reports and meetings to agree targets and discuss progress.
  • Weekly Enrichment and Self Esteem building activities.
  • Weekly Outdoor learning opportunities
  • Examinations and accreditation. - GCSE, ASDAN. AQA units, Functional Skills, ECDL.
  • Restorative Approaches
  • Individual Education Plans and self-regulation Plans.
  • Bespoke education packages to meet individual needs and aspirations
  • Robust Safeguarding systems and close liaison with external agencies and relevant stakeholders.
  • Weekly success reports to Parents and Carers
  • Specific learning interventions/ IT/ equipment etc.
  • Bespoke PSHE and SRE learning opportunities which support Pupil's individual needs.
  • Calm and consistent learning environment.
  • Specialist teaching and support Team Members that have undergone Autism and Attachment training.
  • Weekly 1:1 mentoring sessions with key adult and daily tutor group support.
  • Autism and SEMH progress tracking - communication, social interaction, emotional regulation and flexibility
  1. A Full range of Initial Therapeutic assessments on entry, and ongoing monitoring of progression and need
  2. At least 1 hour per week of therapeutic intervention e.g. Creative Arts therapy
  3. Continued oversight of delivery of therapeutic interventions including access to a wider multidisciplinary team for consultation
  4. 1 hour per week Speech and Language support per Pupil including group sessions, 1 to 1 intervention
  5. Ongoing Therapeutic Team Member support to ensure practice remains relevant and sound
  6. Full ongoing Team Member training in full range of therapeutic practices ensuring therapeutic intervention is practiced across all school activities

REFERRALS & ADMISSIONS

Pupil intake to Acorn School is determined through an assessment process.  Parents/Carers and professionals are welcome to contact the school for more information once you have read our prospectus. We take applications at all points of the year.

  • Parents/Carers and professionals contact school for information.
  • Parents/Carers inform Local Authority of their school preferences.
  • Local authority consults Acorn School.
  • Senior leadership team assesses whether Pupil needs can be met.
  • Further information may be required at this stage.
  • Home visit or School visit arranged.
  • Parents/Carers and Pupil invited for admissions interview.
  • Final decision made by Senior leadership team.
  • Local Authority informed of decision and education package agreed.
  • Admission Pack sent out to Parents/Carers to be completed and signed.
  • Individual risk assessment and positive behavioural support plan created.
  • All information added to School Information Systems.
  • Transport arranged through the Local Authority.
  • Clear transition plan created.
  • Pupil starts at Acorn School.
  • Baseline assessments commence.

GET IN TOUCH

If you would like to find out more about Acorn School, please fill in the form below or contact:

Executive Headteacher: Zoey Shelley MBA, QTLS, NPQEL

Tel: +44 (0)330 135 8 201

Email: acorn@phoenixschools.org.uk

School Opening Hours: 8.30am-3pm

Acorn Web Map

Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Statement

At our school, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment where every Pupil is valued and supported to thrive. Guided by our Phoenix HEART values – Honesty, Empathy, Aspiration, Respect and Teamwork – equality, inclusion and diversity are central to everything we do.
We meet our duties under the Equality Act 2010 by:
  • Eliminating discrimination and disadvantage
  • Promoting equality of opportunity
  • Fostering respect and positive relationships
As a specialist setting, our approach is child‑centred, trauma‑informed and relational. We recognise that inclusion means meeting individual needs to ensure every Pupil can access, engage and succeed.
We achieve this through:
  • Creating environments where Pupils feel safe, heard and valued
  • Removing barriers to learning and wellbeing
  • Promoting belonging, positive behaviour and emotional safety
  • Working in partnership with families and professionals
Together, we create a community where everyone is treated with dignity, differences are respected and celebrated, and concerns are listened to and acted upon.

Feedback from last Academic year

Philosophy on feedback

As part of our approach to reflective practice Phoenix Learning and Care recognise and embrace the importance of developing a culture of continual learning and development.  We welcome feedback on our achievements and the opportunity to share best practice, however we equally understand the importance of learning from our shortfalls. As such we welcome hearing about where we may have not lived up to our high standards and we truly value the opportunity to reflect and learn about areas that we need to develop further.

Within the last academic year we have received the following number of compliments and complaints.  

52
COMPLIMENTS
1
COMPLAINTS

If you would like to provide feedback to the school or wish to make us aware of a compliment or complaint then you can email the school direct.

Alternatively, you may contact our Operations Director(Education), Darren Jackson on: djackson@plcl.org.uk

We treat all concerns appropriately and all complaints are investigated thoroughly following our complaints policy and procedure which can be found within the Policies section of this website.  

REFERRALS

Our Proprietors Phoenix Schools (South), welcome enquiries for placements in any of our services.

Please call us on 03330 150331 or email referrals@plcl.org.uk

We will provide an initial response to all enquiries as soon as possible, advising the options available and indicative dates of admission.

The referrals team can discuss the local offer and where appropriate, put you in contact with the respective Registered Manager or Headteacher to discuss the practical areas in greater detail.

The Young Person and/or Pupil are openly encouraged to visit along with Parents/Carers and professionals to see if the placement is suitable.

Once the placement is confirmed, we work to ensure a smooth transition including the completion of required documentation.