Parent Comment November 2024

Hi Lisa, I would like to say thank you for the beautiful report, it's so detailed and very well written. I really enjoyed reading through it and it's amazing how fast and well my child is progressing and developing. Thank you all, for all the love and support you provide each and every day. 

 

Visitor Comment September 2024

Thank you for letting us join the class. It was great to see how well the children were attended to. The class felt very nurturing and calming.

 

Visitor Comment July 2024

Such a beautiful and inspiring school.

 

Comments from CAMHS June 2024

We visited from CAMHS. The class was so well organised and the children were really well cared for and supported with their learning. Such a lovely atmosphere!

 

Comments from SENCO visitors May 2024

Dear Willow's Delish, 

Thank you so much for our beautiful lunch! I loved the falafel wrap and the biscoff cake was utterly delicious! Thank you.

Thank you for your time and effort in preparing lunch for us. It was such a special touch added to a great visit to Willow Dene.

 

Comment from Little Wandle via Twitter May 2024

Thank you to the Wandle-ful team at Willow Dene special school who have helped us create specific videos to model practice, like this one starring the owner of this hearty chuckle.

 

Comment from Fourway Solutions via Twitter March 2024

On Saturday we had the pleasure of attending the Willow Dene School Spring Fling. We are continually amazed by the selflessness of the staff and the quality of support they provide their children. Thank you for trusting us to sell your balloons… Sorry we lost a few to the ceiling.

 

Comment from ASCL via Twitter March 2024

Thank you so much Willow Dene School and Compass Schools choir for joining us at ASCL 2024 today, and for sharing your impressive work with our delegates. Everyone loved your performances on stage too. Hope you enjoyed the experience and have a safe journey home.

 

Comment via Twitter - March 2024

Another great day working with brilliant colleagues @WillowDeneSch. Lovely to finally meet Milo the dog too! What an amazing school!

 

School Visit feedback - January 2024

Hi Joshua,

The entire visit was incredible! Both Katrina and I felt that you were really warm and welcoming towards us from the moment we walked in. The tour was clear, informative and any questions we had were answered fully. We especially liked being able to spend some time in the classroom and having the opportunity to talk with some of your staff, who were absolutely lovely! The overall feeling of the building is just so amazing and inspiring. We have come away from it with a better idea of what a setting should look and feel like to support children with SEND. I have gushed about the facilities to support staff here who work 1:1 with some of our children, and I know they are keen to visit.

Thank you so much for having us - Willow Dene has definitely left a lasting impression on us!

 

School Visit Feedback - December 2023

Thank you so much for giving me such an amazing day when I visited Willow Dene in December. How phonics has been implemented across your school has really inspired me and I left you feeling very excited about how this could look for our school. Everyone was very excited to hear how the 6^th Form café is going and the sandwich and cake were 'delish'.

 

Parent Quote November 2023

We could not be in a better school than Willow Dene. Everything and everyone is absolutely wonderful and this is a perfect and nurturing environment that our daughter loves and thrives in. The education, care and support the school provides for our daughter and us as parents is exceptional.

 

Little Wandle Feedback April 2023

Dear Rachel, Claire, Kelly and the whole wonderful Willow Dene team, we are so proud and excited to be working with you all as a Little Wandle champion school. We cannot wait to be able to share your incredible work and the difference you make with other schools. Huge thanks for all you do every day and congratulations too! 

From the whole Little Wandle team

 

School Governors Feedback March 2023

Dear Rachel - and all of the Willow Dene team, 

I have just watched the Challenge Partners feedback video and just want to say that I would absolutely agree that you are an amazing school. 

I love the fact that challenge partners picked up on the extended work of the school - siblings, the community links and the family support provision as well as the brilliant teaching practice that is the norm at the school. 

Rachel and all of the SLT are exceptional in the way they care for and support the children in school and also the way they so obviously care about the whole school team 🙂 

I cannot praise you all enough and am so proud to be associated with the school. I talk about the school a lot in my own teaching and work with nursing students too. 

Lynne Wainwright

 

Parent Quote March 2023

"I would like to say a huge thank you for the video, that was one proud mummy moment 🙂 I can't stop watching it, that's a huge step, thank you all so much!"

 

Challenge Partners Report March 2023

"The relationships between school staff, pupils and their families are fantastic. When pupils come into school in the morning, trusting relationships between staff and pupils are evident. For example, in the pouring winter rain, each taxi van takes its place outside reception and a stream of staff quickly help the pupils unload and welcome them into school with bright and welcoming voices to start the school day".

 

Parent Quote February 2022 

"Hi Jess, 

Thank you for sending this to me. Truly appreciate it.  

Imahni has been doing really well lately and I’m very happy, she’s reaching for things that she wants now and sometimes even says ‘more’ and honestly my heart is happy because I didn’t think we would get here again. Thanks to all of you for the work that you do. 

Have a lovely day, Vicki Campbell"

 

Careers Practitioner quote January 2022 

"I am a careers practitioner working in Willow Dene school providing information, advice and guidance to families regarding post 16 options and supporting next steps and transitions. The staff at Willow Dene are all very welcoming and so professional. It feels like a family environment when I am in school. I am very happy to be supporting families whilst working with the staff here." 

 

Parent Survey Autumn 2021 

"As a school you are doing a great job. Please continue the good work" 

"This fantastic school is the most amazing thing to ever happen to my child. The staff are exceptional and my child is a totally different person since attending. They just keep impressing me and I wish every child with special needs had the opportunity to attend here. We feel very blessed and I'm certain my child would not achieve what he has without the amazing staff and facilities" 

"I can't thank everyone in words or by expressing my happiness of my child being fortunate to get a place at Willow Dene. My child is so happy here and at home since he has been coming to school. Everyone has been so helpful, supportive and enthusiastic in the development of my child. Music therapy has done fantastic work with my child for him to develop interest in the piano. We at home say he is a pianist as his 9 year old brother is a violinist. We will always remember the team for the fantastic work they have done with my child." 

 

Careers Enterprise Company December 2021 

"I've supported Willow Dene with their careers and work related learning for the past year. Mark and all class teachers have always shown enthusiasm and positive when ideas are put forward. Willow Dene have secured Careers Booster funding for an excellent enterprise project and has already provided an employer encounter with Premier Inn by working closely with business volunteers. Mark consistently takes part in all professional development relevant for Willow Dene. All this hard work has led to Willow Dene securing a place in the Careers Hub within East London, delivered by Local London. Only 50% of schools were able to get a place so it's an incredible achievement." 

 

Challenge Partners Visit - March 2021 

“Willow Dene’s vision of ‘Seeing Possibilities and Realising Dreams’ is shared fully with all stakeholders and reinforces the school’s approach. The culture and ethos of the school is highly positive, and relationships are strong. The curriculum is well sequenced and coherent with individualised expectations applied to each child. As a consequence, pupil’s characters are developed well, and their voice is heard. The positivity and enthusiasm of everyone we have spoken to is exciting and powerful.”  

  

National Careers Week - March 2021 

"Thank you Willow Dene School for sharing your careers learning. Keep up the good work!" 

  

@TalentionCareer Schools Career Week via twitter - March 2021 

'So many schools could learn from Willow Dene - congratulations on a brilliant careers week' 

  

Compass Parent Forum - February 2021 

"At the most recent Compass Oarent Forum Meeting, the quality of remote teaching was discussed and all parents gave very positive feedback about the remote offer that their child has received.  This included our Willow Dene parents.  We wanted you to know this because managing remote teaching at Willow Dene is complex and time consuming.  We thought it was important that you know that it is appreciated" 

  

Parent Comment via Twitter - February 2021 

"cant thank the staff @WillowDeneSch for the amazing work with Oliver! I honestly never believed i would hear this! I hope you all have a great break you deserve it xx" 

  

Parent Video Message via twitter - January 2021 

  

Parent Message - January 2021 

"Your support is really appreciated and the whole school is doing an amazing job during such a difficult time. You've even helped bring me shopping. Teachers are not getting the recognition or thanks they deserve and I want you all to know how very grateful we are for everything all the staff at Willow Dene are doing!" 

  

Jack Petchey Foundation via Twitter - November 2020                 

"What a fantastic way to include young people in deciding your winners AND grant spends!" 

  

Woolwich Contempory Print Fair, - November 2020 

"You guys did some brilliant artwork. The judges have a seriously hard task this week. Watch this space for the announcement on 16 Nov of the winners of the first Young London Print Prize" 

  

Oxleas Community Children Nursint Team - Oct 2020 

"A pupil from @WillowDeneSch helped the nursing team interview for a new nursery nurse for the school team! A great experience for both the team and student" 

  

Emmanuel, former Student - September 2020 

"My family and I are most grateful. Spending 13 years of my life with you, from nursery to secondary." 

  

Parent/Carer - September 2020 

"I would like to thank every single member of staff who have supported me and Abby during the last million years, you truly are amazing and I'm forever grateful!" 

  

  

Councillor Linda Bird - September 2020 

"Awesome work everyone -perhaps Mayor Bird should join the next round of fitness challenges"