🌳 THE WOODLAND 🌳
Proposed Independent Specialist School (subject to DfE registration)
"A small, specialist learning community where children can grow, flourish and belong."
🌳 Overview
The Woodland is our proposed Independent Specialist School, designed to provide a highly individualised education for children with SEND and SEMH needs who would benefit from a smaller, therapeutic and relational learning environment.
We are currently preparing our application for registration with the Department for Education.
Until approval is granted, The Woodland remains a proposed provision.
The vision for The Woodland builds on the strong foundations of our Alternative Provision, offering children a place where learning is meaningful, nurturing and personalised.
🌳 Our Vision for The Woodland
At The Woodland, we aim to create a specialist school that:
- Provides small class sizes and high levels of relational support
- Offers a holistic curriculum blending academic subjects, arts, outdoor learning and therapeutic practice
- Supports emotional regulation, communication, sensory needs and wellbeing
- Celebrates individuality and nurtures confidence
- Builds trust, curiosity and intrinsic motivation
- Creates a safe, structured environment where children can thrive at their own pace
This will be a place where learning and care work hand in hand.
🌳 Who The Woodland Is For
The Woodland will be suitable for children who:
- Have an Education, Health & Care Plan
- Present with SEND & SEMH needs
- Require a smaller, calmer environment
- Need therapeutic support embedded into their day
- Thrive with hands-on, sensory, creative and relational approaches
- Struggle in large mainstream settings
Placement will be arranged in partnership with Local Authorities.
🌿 Planned Curriculum Approach
Our curriculum will be:
✔ Therapeutic & Relational
Wellbeing and emotional safety underpin every subject.
✔ Holistic & Creative
Academic learning blended with arts, movement, nature and life skills.
✔ Flexible & Personalised
Children learn at their developmental stage, not their chronological age.
✔ Outdoors-Influenced
Woodland exploration, horticulture, nature study and sensory experiences.
✔ Skills-Based
Communication, independence, collaboration and resilience at the centre.
✔ Future-Focused
Preparing children for adulthood, transitions and meaningful outcomes.
🌳 School Day Structure (Proposed)
The Woodland will follow a structured, predictable and nurturing daily rhythm designed to support emotional regulation, learning engagement and wellbeing.
A full timetable will be published once the school is formally approved by the Department for Education.
🌳 Environment & Class Size
The Woodland will offer:
- Small classes with high staffing ratios
- Calm, sensory-aware learning spaces
- Breakout and quiet rooms
- Outdoor learning areas
- Therapeutic spaces
- Access to creative and vocational facilities
The environment will be designed around the sensory and emotional needs of our learners.
🌳 Expected Outcomes
Children attending The Woodland will be supported to:
- Develop emotional regulation and resilience
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Make progress academically at their own pace
- Improve communication and social interaction
- Explore interests, strengths and aspirations
- Enjoy learning again
- Prepare for future independence and transitions
🌳 Status: Proposed School
The Woodland is currently in development and will open subject to successful registration with the Department for Education.
Expressions of interest from families and professionals are welcome while we complete the registration process.
🌳 Enquiries
Parents, Local Authorities and professionals can contact us to:
- Express interest
- Discuss suitability
- Request updates on DfE progress
- Receive information packs when available
For more information:
Please do not hesitate to CONTACT US