Provision Overview

Overview of our provision

Marchant-Holliday is a day and residential special school providing care and education for boys who display challenging behaviours as a result of their social, emotional, and mental health difficulties (SEMH). All pupils have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP).

Age range:

5 to 12 years. (National Curriculum Years 1 to 7)

Type of Placements: Day and Residential, Monday to Friday, 36 Week. Location: Single rural site off the A303 near Wincanton in Somerset. The school has a maximum of 56 pupil places.

Which Local Authorities place pupils at Marchant-Holliday?

Marchant-Holliday is regularly used by Local Authorities across the South and South West of England.

What range of pupil needs does the school provide for?

Marchant-Holliday provides education, care, social development and in some cases, additional support to pupils who experience a range of difficulties in relation to social, emotional, and mental health difficulties (SEMH) including:

·         Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

·         Autism (ASC) (where challenging behaviours are the primary need)

·         Dyslexia

·         Speech and Language Difficulties (SLCN)

·         Attachment Disorder

We recognise that many of our pupils have complex needs in addition to an EHCP primarily for SEMH. The school has strong working partnerships with external professionals to ensure that each pupil’s provision one at the school is individualised at classroom level.

What specialist services are available at Marchant-Holliday School?

The school has a specialist staff team within both the class and welfare teams. Where identified through assessment or need, we are able to offer some higher-level services on site working in tandem with classroom provision. These include Anger Management, a Consultant Educational Psychologist, Dyslexia Screening, Emotional Literacy, Social Thinking Groups, Literacy and phonics, Support, Speech and Language screening and Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy support and Numeracy Support.

The school has a dedicated Speech and Language Therapist, an Occupational Therapist and two Integrated Therapy Assistants. The School Therapy sessions are delivered in school and are integrated within the class curriculum plan for each pupil. Additional support is also delivered by the school’s Additional Support Practitioner Team. Within each pupil’s Personal Development Plan and EHCP specific intervention is identified throughout the year and delivered by school staff on and off site. Typically, interventions are planned in order to:

·         Support transition

·         Develop Skills for Life

·         Preparation for Adulthood

·         Support and develop social interaction and communication

·         Specific curriculum support

·         Ready to Learn

·         Support Emotional Learning and Self-Esteem.

What extra-curricular activities are offered by the school?

The school provides a wealth of extra-curricular opportunities for pupils. Developed over many years, the staff team provides engaging clubs after school for all boys as well as trips and visits throughout the school year. In Year 6 there are residential trips to local outward-bound centres.

How can I make a referral to Marchant-Holliday?

Local Authorities usually make an initial application to the school to place a child they believe may benefit from this provision. Alternatively, parents, carers and advocates may contact the school directly requesting a visit or to talk to us about their child to ascertain whether this school might be suitable. In all cases, parents and carers are advised to correspond directly with their Local Authority. Upon receipt of a referral - and if we think we can successfully meet the pupil’s needs - we will typically arrange a visit to school or home to visit the child. We usually hope to complete a referral process within two to three weeks.

For more information on our referral and admission process please contact us on 01963 33234 or by email: office@marchant-holliday.co.uk

What is the most recent Ofsted outcome?

Marchant-Holliday is judged as Outstanding school by Ofsted (March 2024).

How are decisions made about who can attend Marchant-Holliday?

Decisions about inviting pupils to attend the school are made by the school’s Senior Staff.    If we are not able to offer a place, it is usually because:

·         we have no current capacity in the respective year group/age range

·         we feel the placement would present a level of risk beyond our ability to risk assess

·         we feel that we do not have the specific expertise or range of resource to meet a child’s needs

Any decision made by the school can be discussed in further detail.

What involvement can Parents and Carers expect?

The school places strong emphasis on communication with parents, carers and others who work with and support our pupils. We view good communication and planning as central to a child’s progress. All pupils have a keyworker, who, along with the main school office, is a primary source of contact for parents and carers. This provides opportunities for parent/carers to share information or concerns; these are quickly passed on to the right person in the school in order to provide a response. We report regularly to parents and carers on pupils’ attainment and progress. Parents and carers receive regular calls on pupil progress and direct phone enquiries following holiday periods or absence.

The school provides curriculum and other information on a child’s engagement in the wider life of the school for the purpose of Annual reviews of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

We are in regular contact with parents, carers, and other professionals, in order to maintain a personalised focus on pupils’ needs and progress and in order to clarify and adjust where identified provision both in and out of school to support them.

Marchant-Holliday produces an electronic web-based newsletter as well as up to date information on its website about the general life of the school. Email is accessible through the website.

Parents, carers, and others working with pupils can arrange to visit the school. Requests for visits are addressed promptly to prevent delay. We encourage parents and carers to maintain regular phone contact with residential pupils in the evening.

What level of training do the Staff at Marchant-Holliday School have?

All teachers are fully qualified or are pursuing a degree and/or Initial Teacher Training. Separate staff also teach subject specialisms such as Computing, Music, Swimming and PE. Care staff are qualified to at least NVQ Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People.

All staff receive regular training in a range of areas to support pupils including:

·         Child Protection and Safeguarding

·         First Aid

·         Team Teach

·         Health and Safety

·         Fire Safety awareness

·         A range of training to aid and assist continuing professional development

How does the school prepare pupils for transition?

Pupils receive support in preparation for their next placement. Pupils making visits to new schools within a reasonable geographical distance of the school can be accompanied by keyworkers, teachers, or other staff in order to familiarise pupils with their new school.

How does the school identify pupil progress and/or additional needs?

Following admission, pupils have an initial assessment in order to screen key language and communications areas, to assess current attainment levels and identify any additional difficulties that may affect their learning and social understanding. This assessment provides a baseline from which we measure progress throughout the duration of a pupil’s stay. This is monitored three times a year through range of class-based and in-house cognitive assessments covering all curriculum areas which confirm pupil progress. The school has developed a gap analysis in learning within the National Curriculum framework which identifies individual pupils’ requirements, enabling specific interventions if identified. During the transition process and within the first term a range of key staff develop key support plans. These include Teaching and Learning Plans, Personal Development Plans and Personal Education Plans all of which focus on the individual outcomes in EHCP. These are overseen by the:

·         Headteacher

·         Head of Pupil Support/SENCo

·         Assistant Headteacher

·         Assistant SENCo

How does the school match the curriculum to individual need?

The curriculum is delivered by class teachers (currently 9 classes 2024 -2025) and specialist teachers. Classes are small, typically no more than 6-8 pupils supported by one or two teaching assistants. Pupils with identified Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) are supported through programmes devised and delivered by a consultant Speech and Language Therapist working closely with key staff in school. Classroom and subject Teachers are very experienced and ensure that the curriculum is accessible to all pupils. Planning for all pupils is collaborative across the school and considers the broader areas of the EHCP, in particular barriers to achievement. This approach ensures that teaching strategies consider strategies that enable pupils to become ‘ Ready to Learn’.

The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum enabling pupils in Key Stages 1 & 2.

How does Marchant-Holliday promote pupil well-being?

We actively encourage pupil participation in all aspects of school life, improve pupil access to the curriculum, expand and extend their ability to learn ( Ready to Learn) and encourage pupils to feel positive about themselves as learners and their potential to succeed. If pupils experience success, they improve and develop their self-confidence and boost self-esteem. In addition, the school provides opportunities to develop social and communication skills, Preparation for Adulthood and where appropriate or identified Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC). The school has links to a local Forest School, Equine Therapy and integrates Horse Riding into the curriculum in partnership with the local Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). The school offers many outdoor learning opportunities throughout the school week. There are two outdoor classrooms, extensive fields and woods, outdoor adventure play equipment and a quarry and woodland areas that are used for teaching outdoor skills.

What is the level of accessibility of the school?

The school is located on a rural site near Wincanton in Somerset. The school is a mix of older traditional buildings as well as six new classrooms, specialist teaching rooms and a heated indoor swimming pool. Wheelchair access is available to all areas of the school site.

Does Marchant-Holliday have professional links with other organisations?

Marchant-Holliday is a member school of the National Association of Special Schools (NASS), the National Association of Special Educational Needs (NASEN), The Somerset Literacy Network, Somerset Local Area STEM Partnership and Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). The school participates in activities organised by the Local Area Sports Partnership organised by the local secondary school in Wincanton.