Birch Wood is the first Area Special School to be opened in Leicestershire. It is a purpose built school which is located in very close proximity to a primary (Sherard Primary School), , King Edward VII 11-19 School and the newly built KE VII sixth form centre on the old Sarson school sight. Birch Wood provides 'one stop' services for the educational providers in the area. Through  our outreach team we support pupils in mainstream provision with special needs. Our Network co-ordinator links mainstream providers with special services and training. Birch Wood leads on inclusion in the area and has achieved the Inclusion Quality Mark. We are also a Healthy School.

At our recent Ofsted inspection, through the new framework, we were judged as good, with 11 areas outstanding. 

Birch Wood caters for students who may be described as having moderate or severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. We also have pupils with autism, visual and hearing impairments and physical disabilities. Pupils range from 5 to 19. With 68% of the school population on the autism spectrum, we consider this a speciality of the school. 

Classes are organised according to the age of the pupils and there are both generic classes in the school as well as autism specific classes.

At present there are 114 students on roll although the school was initially built for 90. There is a high demand for places.The school is staffed by qualified teachers, teaching assistants, midday supervisors, a school nurse, administration and premises staff. We also work with many multi-agency staff and employ specialists in music therapy and communication. All students who attend the school have a Statement of Special Educational Need. In order to address the pupil's special educational needs we provide a broad and balanced curriculum which is based on the National Curriculum.

In September 2010 we were awarded Specialist Schools Status in Communication and Interaction and also welcomed our new appointed head Phil Ormerod.

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Birch Wood

(Melton Area Special School)

Grange Drive

Melton Mowbray

Leicestershire LE13 1HA

Telephone: 01664 483340

Fax: 01664 483349

E-mail: office@birchwood.leics.sch.uk

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contact the website manager:-  reneew1@birchwood.leics.sch.uk