Education

The Willows School is a DfE registered, independent, specialist day school in Rishton, near Blackburn, Lancashire. Our school provides high quality education for all children, aged 5 to 16 years.

Ensuring it is a good decision is critical. We know that parents and carers want a high standard of education for their child to make good progress, in an environment where they can be happy and safe.

Your decision to choose our school for your child will be supported by us throughout your child’s time at The Willows School.

We will work closely with you as parents, carers, and local authorities to help ensure your decision was the right one.

Our aim is for pupils to develop a love of learning, and our school motto reflects this, having been inspired by other inspirational professionals who share mutual aims in respect of education. Our motto, “Dream, Believe, Achieve” promotes thinking about what might be possible; realising that it can be possible and then making it happen.

• At all Key Stages, our curriculum is structured to help pupils to secure success:
• academically,
• personally, and developmentally, and
• in life at the school

Our leaders are determined to provide a positive and welcoming atmosphere and culture. Our staff team are proud and committed to supporting pupils to secure successful futures. We support pupils to achieve well by overcoming their individual barriers to learning.

Our core principles mean that we:

• value each pupil equally as individuals
• embrace difference
• have high aspirations and expectations of staff and pupils
• meet pupils’ needs and build on their strengths
• harness creativity, skills and interests
• identify support to manage and overcome barriers and difficulties
• develop self-confidence, esteem, and resilience
• engender integrity, courtesy, trust, care and respect in all aspects of school life
• provide a safe and welcoming environment
• be valued members of our local community

PRIME provides highly personalised, short-term, intensive programmes of mentoring and tutoring for children missing education (CME). Our   programmes also support pupils whose school attendance is a significant cause for concern.

Prime supports learners aged 5 – 19yrs who:

• cannot attend school for medical reasons,
• have a history of poor school attendance,
• have relocated to a new area and await a suitable education provision,
• have emotional based school avoidance (EBSA) and need support before returning,
• are disaffected and have been out of an education provision for some time,
• have been suspended or permanently excluded.

Programmes build on learner strengths and interests. They combine:

• Intensive mentoring to address barriers and ensure school readiness.
• one to one tutoring at the learner’s home.
• one to one tutoring at an agreed, appropriate location.
• online learning completing project work and accredited courses

Objectives and success outcomes are clear and agreed in advance.  We recommend placements of 20 weeks, with regular progress reviews.