Information for Schools and Colleges

WHAT WE DO

Willow Bank school is a school for Key Stage 4 students who are too ill to attend their usual school. Many of our students are supported by CAMHS; all are supported by a consultant.

We provide:

  • Small classes
  • Personalised timetables
  • Close liaison with home, medical professionals and schools

The school offers a temporary place until students can return to their schools or move to a new place of learning.

THE REFERRAL PROCESS

Students can be referred by schools, health professionals and local authority representatives.

All referrals must include medical evidence that says that the child is currently too ill for school. It is important that we are supporting the plan and treatment that the medical professionals have for a child so we require this information before any referral can be accepted.

So that we can assess whether we can offer support schools are asked to supply information about:

  • academic achievement
  • how a child manages their school environment
  • what support has been offered
  • risk-taking behaviour.

REFERRAL MEETINGS

Referral Meetings take place every week and all referrals are discussed. Please note that referrals for students living in Leicestershire must be approved by the Medical Needs Officer at the Local Authority before we can before we can take any action.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

If we think we may be able to support then we will contact the child’s school to gather more detailed information about the child, including SEN, Exam and safeguarding information. Once this is in place the family will be contacted and we will arrange for them to visit to Willow Bank School, so we can meet the student and family, and to gather more information.

We may contact the medical professionals involved or other people working with the family.

If we think we can support then we will offer an Assessment Place in our New Student Assessment Group.

TIMETABLES

Willow Bank Timetables are all personalised.

If students can access main classes then they will start on a timetable of about 4 sessions a week.

This will quickly increase if they are well enough to manage more. Many of our students have full timetables. For many a part-time timetable is needed.

REGISTERS

Pupils are Dual Registered while they attend the Children’s Hospital School.

Schools can code students on roll at Willow Bank School that are not due in to their usual school as D on the register.

REVIEWS

Students have regular reviews. We invite all professionals involved so that we all understand the issues and can plan the next steps.

NEW STUDENT ASSESMENT GROUP

New Student Assessment Group runs for around four weeks with students usually attending for two sessions a week.

During this time they will be assessed for:

  • Academic skills in curriculum subjects
  • Strengths and Difficulties
  • social skills
  • how they manage the school environment
  • their ambitions and links with their schools

This will help us to define a pathway for them.

SUPPORT IN SCHOOL

Our staff are experienced at working with students with physical and mental illness.

We are supported by staff form CAMHS and have good links with consultants.

We have good support from Connexions to help your 11 students plan their post 16 pathway to college, training or employment.

MOVING BACK, MOVING ON

Places at Willow Bank School are to help students through difficult periods. We will be supporting our students to return to their school or move onto a new school or to college to continue their education.

RE-INTEGRATION

Our students need careful support through the transition into school. We will liaise carefully with you when it is time to return a student to you.

When a student reintegrates we will:

  • Hold meetings to plan together
  • Arrange visits for the students to help them adapt to the changes
  • Support the student in school if necessary at the start
  • Gradually hand over care to you

Some of the students will need to attend on a part time basis when they first return (or in the long term).

After we have stopped supporting we will allow a short settling in period before discharging the student from the Children’s Hospital School.

WE MAY OFFER

  • A place in a main class
  • Learning Suite
  • A programme of 1:1 provision
  • Time to spend back at their school

Or a combination of these.

At the end of the Assessment Place we will not offer a place if we do not feel it is the correct support for the child.

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