Silverways School

Silverways offers a calm, structured, and nurturing environment where pupils rediscover trust in learning. Every lesson, space, and system is designed to reduce anxiety and promote engagement. Our curriculum blends academic ambition with therapeutic support so that each young person can make progress that feels both achievable and meaningful.

Every pupil follows a curriculum designed around individual readiness, emotional regulation, and aspiration. We deliver the National Curriculum, adapted to meet the needs and starting points of our pupils while maintaining ambition and breadth.

Alongside academic study, we place strong emphasis on personal development and preparation for adulthood. Our pupils benefit from high-quality PSHE, financial education, food technology, and enrichment opportunities that promote independence, confidence, and wellbeing. Careers education is a strength of our offer, with pupils leaving Silverways well-prepared for further education, training, and employment.

At Silverways, therapeutic support is fully integrated into school life so that pupils’ social, emotional and communication needs are met alongside their academic learning. Our therapy team includes an Occupational Therapist (OT), Speech and Language Therapist (SALT), Movement and Drama Psychotherapist, and a Drawing & Talking Therapy Practitioner. Their expertise is embedded across the curriculum, helping pupils to build emotional regulation, confidence and resilience.

Our Clinical Team works closely with teachers and support staff to create coordinated plans that address both learning and wellbeing needs. 

Our clinical model operates through three tiers of provision:

• Tier 1 – Universal Provision
  Every pupil benefits from therapeutic input built into the daily timetable. This includes Group Process, Dedicated Wellbeing Sessions, and Supplementary Therapy Sessions, facilitated by the Clinical Team and focusing on Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy. 
• Tier 2 – Targeted Provision
  This level provides smaller group or individual interventions such as Drawing and Talking and Mindfulness through Art, designed to support regulation, reflection, and communication through creative and relational approaches.
• Tier 3 – Specialist Provision
  Highly individualised therapy delivered by members of the Clinical Team, including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Psychotherapists. This tier involves detailed assessment and direct therapeutic work on a 1:1 or 2:1 basis, according to clinical need.

Our Family Link Worker plays a vital role in helping pupils who experience Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) to engage in education. Through encouragement and flexible programmes, pupils gradually rebuild confidence and re-establish positive connections with school.

Learning at Silverways extends well beyond the classroom. Our enrichment programme helps pupils rediscover curiosity, build confidence, and connect learning to real life.

Weekly enrichment sessions provide opportunities for pupils to explore new interests, practise teamwork, and develop social and practical skills. Activities are varied and purposeful, including:

• Sports and Physical Development – swimming, horse riding, regular PE, and outdoor games promoting movement, coordination, and wellbeing.
• Creative Arts and Media – art, photography, DJ’ing, mural design, and Comic-Con projects encouraging imagination and collaboration.
• STEM and Technical Skills – woodwork, transport engineering, and digital or design-based projects.
• Languages and Culture – conversational German and Japanese, exploring communication and global awareness.
• Gardening and Outdoor Learning – developing responsibility, patience, and environmental understanding.
• Community and Enterprise – collaborative projects linking learning to contribution and purpose.
• Outdoor Education at Lambourne End, where some pupils attend weekly to build teamwork, confidence, and resilience through hands-on experiences.

Educational visits and guest workshops bring learning to life and help pupils experience the wider world in a supported, structured way. Recent highlights include a visit to the Houses of Parliament, giving pupils first-hand insight into citizenship, debate, and democracy.  Residentials have included adventure activities and camping in Gilwell Park and a GCSE history trip to Berlin to learn about WWII.

Preparing pupils for life beyond Silverways is an essential part of our work. Careers and transition planning begin early and are built into every stage of the curriculum.

Each pupil receives personalised guidance to help identify strengths, interests, and future ambitions. Through the Supported, Exploratory, and Accelerated Pathways, pupils build the qualifications, confidence, and practical skills they need for the next phase of education, training, or employment.

Our Careers Lead coordinates a structured programme that includes:

• Individual careers interviews and guidance sessions
• Visits from local colleges, employers, and apprenticeship providers
• University visits and taster opportunities
• Work-related learning and enterprise activities
• Support with applications, CVs, and interview preparation

We work closely with parents, carers, and external professionals to ensure transitions are positive and well planned. Each young person leaves Silverways with a clear next step — and the belief that their future is possible.