At the Holden School, our ethos is focused on individuality. We pursue the promise that everyone involved in our school – staff, pupils, parents and families – are recognised for their unique value.
This is where our personal approach truly comes to life. Every student receives a bespoke curriculum that is meticulously organised around the goals and targets within their Individual Educational Healthcare Plan (EHCP). We don’t just teach the curriculum; we embed therapeutic understanding into every lesson, every interaction, and every subject.
We are proud to be a fully trauma-informed therapeutic school, meaning clinical expertise is not an add-on—it is central to our learning framework.
Our students benefit from the direct, daily support of our expert, on-site therapy team. This includes specialists in:
-
Psychotherapy: Providing emotional support and helping students process their experiences.
-
Speech and Language Therapy (SALT): Building vital communication and comprehension skills.
-
Occupational Therapy (OT): Developing self-regulation, coordination, and independence.
This powerful clinical support is seamlessly backed up by our highly-skilled teaching teams and dedicated pastoral care staff, creating a unified, expert network around every child.
The result of this integrated approach is a learning framework that genuinely rewards student strengths while providing solid support for their vulnerabilities. Our goal is to empower students to become active participants in their own success:
- We strongly encourage students to develop resilience and inner discipline—giving them the tools to own their choices and take responsibility for their education and personal growth.
We operate across two dedicated sites, Firs Lane and Chapel Street, both conveniently located in the heart of Leigh. Our geographical reach ensures accessibility for families, covering local authorities within a comfortable 45-minute drive of the school, including areas like Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Warrington, and Wigan.
For clarity and ease of planning, we follow the regular 38-week school calendar.
What extra support is provided?
Our commitment to student success goes far beyond the classroom. While our inspirational teachers lay the academic foundation, a dynamic, expert support team ensures every child is ready to learn and flourish. This wider crew is our secret weapon, featuring a dedicated Family Liaison Worker who acts as a key partner for parents, a proactive Child Protection Officer who champions student safety, and a wonderful network of professional therapists and counsellors. They bring their unique expertise directly to our school, offering engaging, one-on-one sessions that give students the individualised tools they need to build resilience, confidence, and happiness.
Personalising support
Our commitment to a truly personal approach to education begins the moment a child is referred to us. We understand that children join us with a history of complex needs and challenging personal experiences, and our first priority is ensuring a perfect fit—because your child deserves nothing less than the absolute best environment to thrive.
We don’t just process applications; we initiate a thoughtful, collaborative assessment.
-
We meticulously review each child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, using it as a foundational map of their unique strengths and needs.
-
Most importantly, we prioritise genuine connection. We don’t rely on paperwork alone! We take the necessary time to meet every child and their family in person. This crucial first meeting can be held in the comfortable, familiar setting of your own home or at the child’s current school.
This in-depth personal encounter is our secret to success. By truly understanding your child’s unique situation, passions, and history, we can design a highly personalised support framework that unlocks their potential and makes school a place where they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. It’s the essential first step on their journey to success with us!
Engaging children
We understand that for many of our students, the journey to us has been challenging. They may have faced significant time out of the classroom or endured negative educational experiences that have severely dampened their self-confidence and love for learning. Our mission is simple: to change that narrative completely.
We work tirelessly to rekindle their curiosity and joy! We achieve this through a creative, flexible, and genuinely fun approach to the curriculum that is intentionally built around our children’s existing interests. Want to explore geometry through the pitch dimensions of a football match? Done. Learn biology by studying animals they adore? Absolutely. Or perhaps use the dynamics of The Avengers to teach teamwork and narrative structure? We make it happen!
Learning is not confined to a desk. Our engaging lessons blend diverse activities inside and outside the classroom. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful park right on our doorstep, providing immediate access to nature, physical activity, and stimulating, real-world learning adventures. We build confidence one inspiring lesson at a time!