ABOUT US

Elms is a school where people are highly valued and prominence is placed on the consistent development of an individual’s strengths.

We work together as a staff team alongside our families with whom we have close communication. Starting a new school is very important for you and your child. You want the best for your child and it is our aim to provide this.

Elms School provides high quality special education for boys and girls aged 2 to 19 years from the Preston, Longridge, Ribchester and South Ribble areas. The children have varying degrees of learning difficulty ranging from profound and multiple to severe. They may also have additional disabilities affecting their health, movement, speech, hearing, sight, understanding or behaviour. The school is particularly suitable for children who require individual teaching opportunities, high teacher to pupil ratio, a multi-disciplinary approach, a caring ethos and excellent resources.

• To fulfil the statutory obligations in relation to each pupil’s Statement of Special Educational Needs.
• To provide a broad and balanced curriculum that acknowledges the age, maturity and different capabilities of the pupils, promotes personal fulfilment and encourages them to achieve the highest possible standards of performance in a wide range of educational and social activities.
• To prepare students to cope as independently as possible in the home, school and community by developing and encouraging initiative, the ability to make choices and promote the principle of self advocacy.
• To promote the involvement of parents and carers in all aspects of school life.
• To promote the inclusive learning opportunities for pupils both within and outside school and to recognise inclusion is a two-way process.
• To provide learning opportunities that will equip pupils, where appropriate, for the demands of the world of work in a rapidly changing society.
• To be part of a multi-disciplinary team that identifies, provides and maintains the necessary standards for health care, safety, protection and well being of all pupils, staff and visitors, complying with LEA regulations and procedures.
• To provide an environment which is safe and secure and enjoys the confidence of parents.

Children in the Early Years (Primary 1 - Nursery & Reception) pursue a range of experiences centred around language and communication, early literacy skills, pre-number work, sensory education, play, technological experiences including computers, voice output communication aids and switch-activated toys, gross and fine motor skills development including swimming, creative skills and developing their social and self-help skills.

In the Primary Department (Primary 2 and Primary 3) children learn English language /communication and literacy skills, mathematics, science, information technology and design technology, history, geography, religious education, art, music, physical education and personal, social and health education. Whilst some subjects are taught discretely others may be approached through a subject-focused topic.

Pupils in the Secondary Department follow a modular curriculum. Although they have a class teacher and register with their peer group, pupils are grouped for lessons sometimes by age or alternatively by the degree of staff support they require to access and gain from the curriculum. Just as in mainstream secondary schools, pupils move around the department and they are taught by teachers with expertise in specific subjects. We believe this system encourages all young people to take responsibility for themselves when moving from class to class as well as engendering awareness of time and ability to adapt to a number of different people. Most importantly, lessons are planned for pupils working at similar levels and are therefore closely matched to their needs.

Specifically, pupils study English language/communication and literacy, mathematics, science, information technology, design technology, history, geography, religious education, modern foreign language and culture, art, music, physical education, citizenship and sex education.