What we Offer – Child Friendly
Who We Are
Cloughwood Academy is a special school for boys aged 8 to 18 who need extra help with learning, emotions, and communication. Some boys come to school during the day, and some stay with us for a few nights each week. Our school is a safe and friendly place where you can learn, grow, and feel cared for.
Our Home Away from Home
Up to eight boys can stay with us from Monday to Thursday, for up to two nights a week during term time. You can also stay late at school until 7pm. This gives you more time to learn new skills, make friends, and become more independent in a warm, family-like setting.
Our Big Dream
We want Cloughwood to be the best place for you to learn and grow. We want you to leave here ready for the future — whether that’s work, college, or living on your own. We believe in helping you become confident, strong, and ready for whatever comes next.
Our Values – What We Believe In
At Cloughwood, we live by five important values:
- Safety: You have the right to feel safe all the time.
- Learning: You have the right to learn and try your best.
- Respect: Everyone deserves to be treated kindly and fairly.
- Integrity: We are honest and do the right thing.
- Determination: We keep trying, even when things are hard.
We also follow British values like fairness, respect for others, and freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
Feeling Safe and Happy
Your safety is our top priority. We have rules to keep you safe and staff who are trained to look after you.
You will have your own bedroom where you can relax and have privacy. You will have your own room fob so that you can enter your room whenever you like.
We make sure bullying doesn’t happen and that everyone feels included and respected.
Being Respected and Included
We celebrate who you are, including your culture, language, and beliefs.
We welcome everyone and make sure you can practice your own religion or culture if you want.
We have clear rules against bullying and treat everyone equally.
Helping You Grow and Achieve
We want you to do your best in school and in life.
You will take part in lots of activities that help you learn new skills, make friends, and get ready for the future.
We have a special way of helping you behave well called “The Residential Way,” which helps you understand what is expected and rewards you for positive choices.
Taking Responsibility
We help you learn to take responsibility for your actions and make good choices.
Our expectations are fair and help you learn how to be independent, safe and confident. Attached to this document is the “Residential Way”. It is similar to the “Cloughwood Way” but with some changes.
Being Part of Our Community
We work closely with your family and people who support you.
We want you to stay in touch with your family and friends and celebrate your successes together.
We use technology to share your achievements and keep families updated using class Dojo and other communications.
How We Teach and Care for You
Our care team and teachers work together to support you all day and evening.
We follow your Cloughwood Profile and EHCP to help you learn and grow in the best way for you.
We focus on helping you with your feelings, friendships, and communication.
We teach you skills for adult life, like cooking, budgeting and staying safe in the community.
We use kind and respectful ways to help you behave well and feel ready to learn.
What People Say About Us
Relationships between children and staff are very strong. Staff help children understand their goals and support their learning. Living here is part of the school and helps children do well. – Ofsted, January 2025“Relationships between children and staff are very strong. Staff help children understand their goals and support their learning. Living here is part of the school and helps children do well”
– Ofsted, January 2025
What Life is Like Here
You can make your bedroom your own special place.
We celebrate your achievements every week with awards.
Staff help you to regulate and think about your actions in a positive way.
You can attend fun activities in the community to learn and have new experiences.
We have lots of adults you can trust who keep you safe.
Keeping You Safe While Trying New Things
We know trying new things can feel risky, but we help you understand how to stay safe and make good choices. We carefully check all activities to keep you safe.
Activities that we plan
- Forest School
- The Golf Range
- Shopping and budgeting in the community
- Independent skills
- Visits to local parks and attractions
- Cooking and Baking
- Learning around keeping yourself safe
- Board games
- Multi-sports
- Travel training
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Shuffleboard
- Board game café
- Walks in woodlands
- Celebrations of calendar events
- Swimming
- Visits to beaches and arcades
- Movie nights
- Cinema
Here are some comments that children say about the residential provision
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Here is a list and photos of the people we have visiting the residential to make sure you’re safe and happy. There is a description of what each visitor’s role is when they visit the residential.
Kayleigh Jackson
Kayleigh works for our Trust (Kaleidoscope Learning Trust). She will visit and join in activities. Kayleigh will check in to make sure you’re happy and safe. She will ask you about your time on residential and discuss anything you like or don’t like. She will then write a report and share it with the Trust and Head of Care to make sure you’re listened to. Your voice is important to us.
Lee Webster
Lee visits us every half-term. His job is to visit our residential you make sure that you’re supported by staff to be happy, healthy and safe. He is keen to hear your views and ideas about what you like or don’t like about residential and what you think could make it better. During his visit he will have a chat with you, staff, your parents/carers and other professionals. He will then write a report which is shared with staff.
Charlene Brown
Charlene will visit us each month and make sure that you are happy whilst attending the residential. She will have chats with you, join in activities and build positive relationships with you. You can talk to her about anything; she is a trusted adult who will take your concerns seriously.
All contact details of our visitors are on the notice board if you would like to get in touch with them at any point.
Cloughwood Academy is more than a school — it’s a caring family where you are valued and supported. We want you to feel safe, respected, and ready for a bright future. Together, we make this a great place to live, learn, and grow.