A Place to Belong
‘The Haven School Wolston is inspired by a belief that we can make a difference to every young person we work with by listening to them and raising their aspirations. We believe in the potential of every young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through.’
The Haven Wolston SEND provision
At The Haven Wolston we understand that every pupil is unique, and we are proud to offer a supportive, therapeutic environment for young people with a range of special educational needs.
Many of our pupils have found it difficult to thrive in their previous educational setting, Our aim is to engage them further in learning, helping them to gain the qualifications and confidence that they are capable of.
Our SEND provision is tailored to the individual, with small class sizes, personalised strategies, and a strong focus on emotional wellbeing. Every pupil has a dedicated keyworker who is their first point of contact each day, providing consistent support and building trusted relationships.
We prioritise identifying all areas of need, including those not yet formally diagnosed, and putting the right support in place early, to ensure our pupils thrive.
Our interventions include practical, hands-on approaches such as Lego Therapy, and we provide access to a wide range of sensory resources, which pupils are encouraged to use in ways that work best for them.
Personal progress is carefully tracked using the Autism Progression Framework, ensuring that pupils are supported to meet their EHCP outcomes and personal goals. Our team includes staff with various backgrounds, and we benefit from weekly input from a qualified Occupational Therapist and a Speech and Language Therapist, both of whom also provide ongoing training to our staff.
Our goal is to prepare each young person for their next steps, whether that’s college, training or employment, by giving them the tools, self-belief and support they need to move forward with confidence.
The Haven Wolston staff continuously look for opportunities to support pupils to grow in terms of their independence, to enable them to transition effectively to adulthood.
Inclusion at The Haven Wolston
At The Haven Wolston we are proud to champion an inclusive and nurturing environment where every pupil is recognised as an individual and is supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. ‘The Haven Way’ sets out our clear expectations for our school community which focuses on positive behaviour, meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging. The motto “belong, grow, achieve” is at the heart of everything that we do.
We are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our pupils through tailored support, scaffolded learning and a curriculum that builds confidence, skills and independence.
Central to this is our Keyworker model, which ensures a consistent and trusted link between home and school. This collaborative relationship allows for timely communication, personalised goal setting, and responsive pastoral care, which supports the whole child.
By embedding ‘The Haven Way’ in everything we do and aligning our inclusive practices with individual learning journeys, we ensure that every pupil is fully prepared for their next steps – whether into further education, training or supported living – with the tools they need to lead fulfilling lives beyond The Haven Wolston.
Teaching and learning at The Haven Wolston
At The Haven Wolston we aim to offer our pupils a broad, balanced and holistic curriculum which gives them the necessary skills and knowledge for their next steps in the world.
We believe that our curriculum should demonstrate high expectations of our pupils as well as being flexible to meet their individual needs and interests, thus enabling them to engage fully and reach their potential.
While in KS3, our pupil’s provision is centred around a nurturing environment where pupils access a broad curriculum. This includes their core subjects of Maths, English, Science and PSHE as well as exploring Humanities, Food Technology, Art and Forest Schools.
Our KS3 provision is tailored to individual pupil needs and allows them to gain confidence in themselves and their learning, while closing gaps in their subject knowledge.
In KS4 and 5, our pupils usually follow one of three learning pathways. Some pupils progress to GCSEs in Maths, English Language and Biology, others follow the Functional Skills Level 1 and 2 programme. Pupils on these two pathways also choose from three ‘options’ subjects. These vary from year to year but may include: -
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GCSE English Literature
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GCSE Media Studies
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GCSE Art
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GCSE History
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NCFE Food and Cookery Skills
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NCFE Childcare
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NCFE ICT Skills
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NCFE Personal Social Development
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NCFE Sport
Choosing these ‘options’ subjects allow our pupils to tailor their educational journey to their future goals and interests.
Some of our pupils develop their Maths and English skills through our Entry Levels programme and alongside this expand their independence skills, which supports them in developing their life skills for the future.
All of our pupils are given opportunities to engage in weekly physical and sporting activities. PSHE is also delivered to all pupils. Our pupils in Year 9 and above also study Employability, with many achieving an Employability qualification.
Our staff pride themselves on knowing our pupils well and tailoring the curriculum and learning opportunities to meet their individual needs also ensuring all pupils can access the curriculum at a level appropriate to them.
This enables all of our pupils to make strong academic progress, while regaining and developing a love of learning.
The Haven Wolston also offers pupils opportunities to attend work experience placements or college courses as part of their programme of study and to support their transition to adulthood.
The Haven Wolston facilities
We have a wide range of facilities which includes teaching kitchens, a science lab, a sensory room, a variety of classrooms, a Forest School area, an allotment, and an outside play area.
The Haven Wolston ethos
Our young people’s welfare is of paramount importance. The Haven Wolston establishes and maintains an ethos where pupils feel secure, are encouraged to talk, are listened to and are safe. Young people at the school are able to talk freely to any member of staff if they are worried or concerned about something.
