School’s Aims & Objectives
‘The culture and atmosphere are those of positivity, expectation and encouragement.’ Ofsted- 2022
Birtley House Independent School provides a positive, supportive and nurturing environment for children to learn. We understand that every child learns differently and we offer a highly creative, multi-sensory curriculum which has been designed for children with a range of Additional Educational Needs.
Work is aimed at each child’s individual level so they can be challenged yet still achieve. We aim to break the feeling of failure and frustration so often encountered and to help our pupils acquire essential skills, knowledge, confidence and self-esteem. Small class sizes help to achieve this and ensure each child receives the teacher’s attention.
Our school minibus allows us to access regular experiences and opportunities outside of the school premises both locally and further afield. Our children gain a significant amount through these opportunities. We have excellent links with other schools in Kent, Bexley and London.
We also offer a varied and changing programme of in-school clubs including: street dance, arts and crafts and quiet club.
Therapies are available on site including: speech and language therapy, physio therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, talk and draw therapy, lego therapy. Additional interventions are also available on site including: social skills, emotional literacy, reading, dyslexia support.
A personalised learning programme / provision plan is made for every child with or without an EHCP. Pupils with no EHCP receive 2 Pupil Passports (PPs) and Reviews per year. Intervention groups are allocated using provision mapping. These groups cover: language skills, social and communication skills, phonics, maths, dyslexia, fine and gross motor skills, emotional awareness, self-esteem and the TTRS (Touch Type Read Spell) computer programme, as well as others.
We greatly value outdoor learning spaces and offer daily opportunities for children to learn outside in our safe and secure grounds which are set within the natural beauty of Gallow’s Woods.
We place a high priority on offering outstanding pastoral care for every child. Our staff are a very caring team who work alongside every family to support the individual needs of every child. We operate a very open and honest policy of communication between home and school so that parents are very involved in their child’s progress and the general life of the school. The parent school portal works very efficiently as a communication tool. Day to day information about class issues is also communicated via the pupil day books.
We welcome children of all faiths and our ethos is broadly Christian.
The admissions criteria outlines the suitability of a placement for children with Additional Educational Needs. Some discretion over the age of entry may be applied if there are good reasons for an early or late entry.
All children, including those with Education Health and Care Plans are considered by the Headteacher who will consider the suitability of a placement and discuss with the parents.
Headteacher September 2026
