Feedback about our Academy

We are extremely proud of all the children and staff at Orchard Primary Academy and love having people to visit. We also enjoy hearing positive comments from our visitors, parents and the local community.

How we have used Parent and Child voice to shape our Academy:

Below are some recent comments that we have received, from various agencies who are involved with our Academy:

This school has a very approachable and knowledgeable SEN team who work hard to support children and parents alike. They work well with other agencies to ensure positive outcomes for their pupils.

- Parent Advisor

Happy to provide our voice. I always rave about Orchard wherever I go!

We recently visited Orchard Primary School to observe good practice within their Walnut intervention room, and the experience was extremely valuable. From the outset, it was clear that the intervention set up is thoughtfully designed and underpinned by a strong understanding of children’s individual needs.

I was so impressed by what I observed that I arranged a further visit with my head teacher, as we were keen to explore how elements of this could be replicated within our own setting. The environment was calm, purposeful, and clearly structured to support child-centred learning, while still allowing for flexibility and independence.

Throughout all visits, staff at Orchard Primary were welcoming, knowledgeable, and reflective. Their commitment to child-centred learning was evident in both their interactions with pupils and their delivery of the curriculum. Walnut is a clear example of high-quality practice, and the visits have had a significant influence on our own thinking and development as a team.

- Mrs Sheridan - Local Area SENDco

The SENCo and DSL have a fantastic relationship that ensures no child is missed. They communicate quickly and effectively and work well as a team.

I have worked alongside Miss Fisher for several years in regarding additional support needs for families, Miss Fisher always addresses needs of the whole family as she is very aware that working this way ensure all support needs are looked at to achieve best outcomes for families. She regularly is lead professional for TAF’s ensuring multiagency working is in place and that plans are followed to ensure outcomes are made for children and families.

Miss Fisher gives appropriate challenge as well as support to ensure concerns and needs are discussed with professionals and families. I have found Orchard Academy to be very active in working together with other services and will refer families to other agencies to ensure correct support is given.

- Families Together Consultant

We have found the SEN team extremely collaborative and helped support an individualised plan for one of our young people. This collaborative approach has the young persons health and well being has been the focus and as a health team the clear communication from the SEN team has been so valuable in helping achieve this.

- Clinical Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist Cystic Fibrosis.

SEND team are responsive and work hard to embed outreach recommendations. School understand pupils with additional needs and work hard to remove barriers. As a setting you have been used for good practise where other schools have been sent to see your CLS English group as it worked well and secured progress for your pupils with SEND as it was resourced and structured appropriately.

- Cognition and Learning Outreach

Orchard Primary Academy always offers the PCAN team a warm welcome. We have been invited into school on numerous occasions to provide information and support SEND families.

- Kirsty (PCAN)

Orchard Primary Academy demonstrates a strong and proactive commitment to inclusive practice through its sustained and meaningful engagement with the Kirklees Local Authority Educational Psychology Service. The effectiveness of our service delivery is significantly enhanced by a strong working relationships maintained with Kate Barker-Milner (SENCo), whose strategic oversight ensures that SEND provision is both rigorous and responsive; and Danielle Fisher (Safeguarding Lead/DT for children in care), who facilitates a trauma-informed approach to supporting the school’s most vulnerable learners. The Academy makes very good use of our wider local authority support systems, ensuring a holistic approach to student well-being. For example, the school consistently engages with training we offer through Kirklees Keep in Mind, to help embed mental health and wellbeing support within their universal offer. There is also an openness to involving our team of Specialist Children in Care Outreach teachers and Inclusion Workers, ensuring that external expertise is integrated into daily practice.

- Tony Mancini (Educational Psychologist)

The Locala Children's Continence Team work closely with the team at Orchard Primary, our main contact is Miss Fisher.

We have asked the school team to support children with chronic health conditions which can impact significantly impact on a child's education, through absenteeism and social anxiety.

The team at Orchard Primary go over above to support these children and their families who can find it difficult to navigate the daily medicines and routine required to treat their child's health condition. The school team will administer prescribed medications and ensure children have access to fluids and toilets which is a crucial part of their health care plan.

Orchard Primary can have high numbers of children who are not toilet trained, we provide toilet training sessions for parents, the school team identified this need and are very proactive in to forming a clear action plan to help children achieve continence.

As a health professional I find the 'can do' and 'working together' approach I receive consistently from the school team at Orchard Primary really positive and together we are able to achieve good outcomes for children and their families.

- Children’s Community Continence Nurse

I have worked closely with Orchard for approximately 8 years, they are supportive and safeguarding is at the forefront of everything. Miss Fisher's knowledge of the families in our area and been invaluable and we have been able to work closely together to support our most vulnerable students.

- Learning Manager/DSL (Manor Croft Academy)

I feel Miss Fisher has a really good understanding of the families in which she works with and their environmental factors. She strives to meet better outcomes for the families by ensuring they get the appropriate support this includes holding meetings, making appropriate referrals to other agencies and offering her support to them. She is very approachable and I enjoy working alongside her.

- Hayley Curtis (Locala 0-19 Team)

“The positive relationship with parents is clear to see in meetings with other agencies, school team and families. There is an obvious ethos of mutual respect and genuine care for the child and wider family, which is lovely to see”

- Allison Langdale (Kirklees Local Authority)

I have worked with Danielle in a professional capacity and also through her support with my children at Chickenley School. Danielle is exceptional at her job and consistently goes above and beyond for the families she supports. Before working with her I struggled to trust professionals and felt there were barriers in place, however Danielle helped me to realise that not everyone is out to get you, and that there are people who genuinely want to help, she has never been judgemental toward me or to any of the women that I have worked with alongside her.

Danielle played a significant role in helping me to leave an abusive relationship and supported both me and my children through the aftermath. She helped the children access counselling and gave them a safe space to speak about their feelings. She also supported me through court processes and with social services, ensuring that both myself and my children felt heard and supported.

Her knowledge and understanding of safeguarding is outstanding. In fact, with her support and encouragement, I have now set up a group for women who have experienced domestic abuse. Danielle’s passion for safeguarding and family wellbeing is clear in everything she does. There is nothing she doesn’t know regarding safeguarding, and she will go above and beyond to help anyone she can. It is always evident that she has the best interests of children and families at heart. She has brought multiple women to the drop-in at Chickenley community centre and has sat with them and held their hand supporting them throughout. I am extremely grateful for everything she has done for us and feel privileged to have had her support. I do not know where I would be right now if it wasn't for her support.

- Jade Lee (Healing Sisters Chair Person)

It’s always a pleasure visiting Orchard Academy . On arrival you are always made to feel welcome . The school are proactive in keeping staff and children safe by asking for identity and to sign in.

Ive worked with Danielle numerous times in the safeguarding arena. The multi professional team could not do without her knowledge of the children /families and the community. Danielle is always proactive in seeking the best support for all families and their children . It’s an absolute pleasure to work with her.

- Alison Tolhurst (Dewsbury 0-19 Team)

I have worked with Danielle supporting families for a number of years and throughout this time she has consistently demonstrated a high level of dedication and commitment. She is supportive, approachable, and always willing to help, ensuring families feel heard and well supported. Her focus on achieving positive outcomes is evident in the care and effort she puts into her work, and she consistently goes above and beyond to advocate for the families she supports. Her reliability and genuine commitment make her a valued support for children and their families.

- Sarah Hanson (Clinical Nurse Specialist)

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