Blossom House School

Since 1989, Joanna Burgess OBE, known to all as Joey. Trained as a speech and language therapist and worked in mainstream and special schools in London, before taking a qualification in dyslexia and a PGCE at Roehampton. Started up a specialist

A school for children with a primary need in speech, language and communication, but can include co-occurring difficulties and diagnoses. All children have EHCPs (or are in process). Paperwork and an informal 45 minute visit are followed by

Children don’t automatically proceed to the secondary level or to sixth form, particularly if their LA recommends a comparable setting near home. However, those that stay on will choose from a range of different pathways, and proceed to supported

The curriculum is differentiated according to pathway, with holistic-path children following the national curriculum integrated with therapies and sensory menus, whereas children on the adapted curriculum follow a programme with a greater emphasis on

Indivisible from academic teaching is the learning support. Parents told us how their child had accessed therapy – via one-to-ones, groups or in paired work, using visuals, social stories and sensory interventions. ‘Therapy is not just an add-on,’

The value of the arts as therapy, as well as part of the creative carousel, is appreciated here. The school employs music, art and drama therapists. We saw an early years class cutting and sticking Mother’s Day cards, while children in the adapted

Despite Motspur Park’s fame as the home of Fulham Football Club, the school does not immediately strike you as a hub of sporting activity. However, a cabinet of trophies in reception tells a different story: regional panathlon champions as well as

‘All staff from Joey right the way down are so friendly, so open,’ said one mum. Another said, ‘Everyone is expert in their field.’ However, therapy is the backbone of the school. ‘I run the school from a therapist background, more therapist than

Having trusted adults is part of the learning process here, and the special advisors to each child look out for mental health and behavioural issues and recommend suitable support, often using art or music therapy. School avoiders and an increasing

Children arrive from 30 different local authorities. A large number are local to Kingston, Merton and Wandsworth, but taxis queue up at morning drop-off from north and south London boroughs. We liked the royal blue sweatshirts with blossoming tree

Local authority paid via EHCP.

Blossom House does what it promises, giving children the chance to flourish. From humble beginnings, the head has grown a school that excels in therapeutic teaching, combining support for children with speech and language needs in a mainstream school