Welcome to Linwood’s website, and thank you for visiting. I hope the website gives you an insight into our fantastic school but to really ‘experience the magic’ visiting is a must – please do call or e-mail to arrange a visit, we would be very pleased to show you around.

We believe that everyone should have the chance to thrive, and that Linwood can make this belief a reality. We believe that with the right environment and personalised support everyone can grow, learn and achieve.

For us every person matters and we understand that every moment counts. The organisation of our campuses, curriculum and assessment pathways and individual approaches ensure that learning is person-centred and has a real focus on upholding our school values of respect and harmony, inclusivity, support, responsibility, excellence, trust and positivity. We celebrate diversity and value the contribution that every child and young person makes.

Linwood School is a day special school which welcomes pupils from a wide geographical area, supporting a comprehensive range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Linwood School is made up of a number of campuses:

Linwood Campus (Winton)

Nursery to Year 14, supporting pupils with a comprehensive range of special educational needs arising from:

• Cognition and learning needs covering a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD), where children are likely to need support in all areas of the curriculum and associated difficulties with mobility and communication, through to profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), where children are likely to have severe and complex learning difficulties as well as a physical disability or sensory differences
• Autism or other neurodevelopmental differences
• Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) which affect one or more specific aspects of learning. This encompasses a range of conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia
• Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
• Sensory and/or physical needs

Springwood Campus (West Howe)

Years 1 to Year 14, supporting pupils who have a diagnosis of autism and associated learning difficulties

Years 9 to 11, supporting pupils who have a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome

Littlewood Campus (West Howe)

Years Nursery, Reception and Year 1, supporting pupils who have a diagnosis of autism and associated learning difficulties

Woodford Campus (based at Twynham Primary School)

Pupils aged 7 – 11 with a comprehensive range of special educational needs

Summerwood Campus

Years 12 – 14, supporting pupils who have a diagnosis of autism/Asperger’s syndrome

CHI (Classroom in the Heart of the Industry)

An industry programme based in the Marsham Court Hotel, Venture Shop (Christchurch), Tesco (Riverside branch) and Immanuel Centre (Southbourne) which provides education and employment-based training for students Years 12 – 14, predominately supporting students with more moderate learning needs.

Post 19 Link +

This provision supports young adults with additional learning needs transitioning to adulthood for up to 5 students aged 19 – 25.

We have an exceptional staff team of teachers, teaching assistants and support staff. All staff are committed to providing the best possible support and opportunities for our children and young people. We are dedicated to providing a safe and secure learning environment where our students can grow and develop personally and academically. We understand the importance of strong relationships, motivating activities, joy and laughter in developing engagement and promoting learning. We are highly aspirational for all of our students.

We believe in working in partnership with parents, carers and the families of our pupils. We also work closely and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to ensure our students have the best possible support and opportunities both in and out of school. We aim to ensure that our pupils are able to live fulfilled and happy lives with the skills they need for life both outside of school as well as into adulthood.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and learn more about our exceptional school.

Gemma Talbot
Executive Headteacher
(Linwood Campus, Springwood Campus, Littlewood Campus, Woodford Campus, Summerwood Campus, CHI)