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SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

Orange Tree School / Holmewood School

27 replies

MarthaJonesPhone · 13/01/2024 17:18

Does anyone have children at either of these two schools or have any feedback. I would be so grateful.

DS current mainstream school placement has completely broken down. I've applied for an urgent review of his EHCP to change to special school.

DS is very shy and so anxious and I'm desperate to find a very quiet and nurturing school for him.

OP posts:
SpaceInvader321 · 27/02/2024 15:24

Bumping. I'd also be interested in feedback about these schools for my 11yo auAdhder. Getting worried about the y7 transition.

Lilysilrose · 12/03/2024 00:22

Holmewood - its very expensive so you will only get it on appeal. There is group therapy provision but otherwise I didn’t feel the staff were particularly specialist or knowledgable. The buildings are tatty and the outdoor space is very limited. I know people with kids who are happy there however, which is obviously the key thing.

Orange Tree I haven’t look round but I’ve heard nothing but bad things. As always worth looking around yourself.

Red balloon schools might be worth a look.

Lilysilrose · 15/03/2024 10:16

You could also look at Silverways (Enfield), The grove (Enfield), Windmill (Barnet).

TravelBunnie · 17/03/2024 21:38

Orange tree is horrendous. Sadly, the head teacher is a dreadful character & only wants kids with weak ehcps . Has no understanding of autism or mental health & only recently the school was investigated due to so many complaints. However, the head once worked for Ofsted so knew all the tricks to get round it. Most parents are very disappointed with the school. Staff wonderful but the head controls all & is like a second hand car salesman. Vile man from ex parent

Original poster
MarthaJonesPhone · 18/03/2024 16:13

Thank you both. And thank you for your thoughts on OTS. I did visit, staff seemed lovely but I didn't get a great impression of the Head.

OP posts:
SaltBlossom · 20/03/2024 14:32

Just went to the OT today, the head is retiring.

TravelBunnie · 20/03/2024 18:06

Omg !!! I imagine he has been pushed or jumped before …wonderful news though …

SaltBlossom · 20/03/2024 18:27

@TravelBunnie do you think it's a school worth considering given this change?

TravelBunnie · 20/03/2024 19:05

I definitely would look into it if he is retiring . I am not sure what class sizes are which was a concern before as they were very low on numbers but that should be easy info to find out …

SaltBlossom · 20/03/2024 19:40

They have 27 overall but I don't know the split across the year groups. I will go back with DD and ask for more detail then. She would be Y7 2025 entry

Original poster
MarthaJonesPhone · 20/03/2024 20:07

When I asked they had 12 in Y10 and above. No year 7's. One year 8.

OP posts:
TravelBunnie · 20/03/2024 20:12

Good grief …that’s quite concerning given they were trying to get to 10 kids in year 8 about 18 mths ago but I know many prospective parents were put off by the head .

Broct · 20/03/2024 20:20

I am relatively local to the area of both Holmewood and Orange Tree although in Herts and really pleased to have found this thread. My Y9 son attends a specialist resource provision but his sensory needs are currently off the scale, mainly at school but also at home. He is ASC and academically mainstream (although not in lessons often due to his SPD, as most of the class sizes are at least 10-15 children). Before I progress this further with the LA, would anyone be able to offer an opinion of whether either of these schools could meet need for sensory processing disorder?

Original poster
MarthaJonesPhone · 20/03/2024 20:29

If it was a choice between Holmewood and OTS, Holmewood would be the better option.

Tbh I still have absolutely no idea about OTS as it all seemed very vague. No idea what the school is 'about'. Would be interesting to revisit when there is a new head.

OP posts:
SaltBlossom · 20/03/2024 20:40

The tour today was run by the new head Zoe Ramshaw. The previous one isn't even on their website anymore.

Original poster
MarthaJonesPhone · 20/03/2024 20:45

Blimey, that's all very quick! I wonder what happened?

OP posts:
SaltBlossom · 20/03/2024 21:18

He was on site and introduced the tour, but then left. Who knows?!

MBedd · 07/06/2024 11:56

We have an 11 year old ASD/ADHD bright boy. We have been thinking about school for the past few years as our son is moving from his lovely junior (mainstream) school in North London this year and needs a specialist setting. We had researched and look round all the special needs schools. Our experience of Holmewood was really bad. The woman responsible for the assessment (who is new) seem to have no understanding of Autism and although some of the teachers were lovely she make the experience really unnecessarily stressful for our son. This is a new approach that they didn't used to do chatting to other parents. They want easy ASD kids with no anxiety, but are not interested in relaxing the child to get the best from them. It felt like he was being stress tested. Really unnecessary when all his reports say he manages really well at school with the right support. It felt like this approach did not boad well for a school that seems to be trading on its old reputation.

Orange Tree school couldn't have been more different. The new headmistress was so lovely and she has an autistic child herself so really gets it. They took the time to get to know our son. Found what he was interested in and made a really effort to engage him and get the best from him, which they did. I have read on here some negative thoughts about the ex headmaster but he is no longer at the school and it really feels like a new start with good people and a lovely nurturing safe space for our son. The teachers were really understanding, they have a great chef on site who cooks beautiful food for the kids as some struggle around diet etc. the environment is calm and there is a clear focus on getting the children there to reach their potential, full range of GCSE's etc. It is a relatively new school (3 years old) with a new head teacher so may feel like a bit of a gamble as needs time to build up its reputation, but from the 9 school we looked round seemed to have all the right ingredients to really meet the needs of our son in a positive way. It is part of the Ellern Mede group who have 5 different schools in the UK all with great reputations. Our son is looking forward to starting in September and it is a great relief to have found the right space for him.

I know how stressful it is finding the right place for our vulnerable children and have been through the mill on our search. My advice is go and get a feel for the school you are considering and speak to the teachers about their approach. You will get a clear sense of what will and won't work for your child.

SaltBlossom · 07/06/2024 12:32

@MBedd thanks for the post - I assume your son's place is funded through the EHCP? Would you mind saying whether or not you live in Barnet?

MBedd · 07/06/2024 12:39

Yes we have received funding through his EHCP but live in Haringey

SaltBlossom · 07/06/2024 12:49

Thanks, apparently Barnet refuse to consult with Orange Tree!

MBedd · 07/06/2024 13:29

That’s crazy! It’s in Barnet. Much harder to get funding outside of borough. Did they give any reason? They are legally obliged to find the right setting for your child if they can’t provide. We had to fight for funding and didn’t take no for an answer. We also spoke to an advocate lawyer who helped advise and were prepared to go to tribunal but didn’t have to in the end

TravelBunnie · 07/06/2024 15:22

I suspect that’s due to them having only had negative experiences with Orange Tree but sad as with Zoe running the show, it may be different.
sorry re your experience with Holmewood. Our son was at OT under former head and is now at Holmewood thriving . It is an incredible school !!’

Benjiwhites · 28/09/2024 10:13

Just picking up on this thread in case anyone is considering OTS. All of the negative comments and the school being ‘horrendous’ in our experience are out of date and no longer true. I can’t speak to what it was like under the previous head, and acknowledge that families may have had bad experiences in the past, but as new parents at the school, who also looked at 10 other schools, we are really happy with OTS and their genuinely caring, supportive and ambitious ethos. Our ASD/ADHD child is growing in confidence every day, and achieving things that were impossible in mainstream. The school is modern, well resourced and well run. And, as a school born out of a hospital school for kids with eating disorders, it has a board of governors that are mainly doctors, which is reflected in how the school operates. I would advise anyone thinking about OTS to visit the school in person, along with all the others you’re considering, and make your own judgement.

TravelBunnie · 28/09/2024 13:57

I hear you and hope this is the case but the fact the overall head of the schools under Ellern Mede is Karen Shirbini who is the wife of the rogue former head is rather concerning !! She also walked out with no notice nor communication to the parents or kids when she was operating at the supposable Senco and was uncontactable for months . They also denied being a sen school when things didn’t go well & denied any connection with the hospital school & the present staff were deeply implicated in that perception. However , glad it’s going well but be aware !!!