Therapies
Our therapies
At Wilds Lodge School, we believe that every child deserves the chance to feel safe, understood, and capable of success. Our therapeutic approach is the foundation of everything we do, combining care, creativity and expertise to help learners grow both emotionally and academically. Through a highly integrated model of education and therapy, we support our learners to overcome challenges, build resilience and discover their strengths every single day.
At Wilds Lodge School, therapy is at the heart of everything we do. As a therapeutic school, we believe in equality and collaboration between therapy and education. Every learner deserves the right support to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Our therapeutic approach is woven into every part of school life. Therapists work alongside teachers in classrooms, during break times, lunchtimes and extracurricular activities, ensuring that support is both holistic and continuous.
In addition to our universal, whole school therapeutic support, we offer targeted and specialist interventions through small group, paired or individual sessions. This ensures every learner receives the right level of support, when they need it most.
The school’s therapeutic provision supports pupils’ personal development and learning well.
Good, Education Ofsted February 2024
Our therapies
We’re proud to offer a rich range of therapies and therapeutic support that help our learners develop confidence, resilience and independence.
Speech and Language Therapy
Louise, our Speech and Language Therapist, supports learners in developing the communication skills they need to learn effectively and build meaningful relationships.
Her work takes place across classrooms, small groups and individual sessions, and may focus on:
Improving speech clarity
Building expressive and receptive language
Enhancing social communication skills
Expanding vocabulary related to emotions, topics and curriculum areas
Encouraging confident self expression and advocacy
Working closely with staff and families, Louise ensures that communication development is a shared, supportive journey.
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
Sue, our Literacy Specialist, provides dedicated support for learners with Specific Learning Difficulties in English.
She delivers small group, paired and individual interventions, alongside literacy assessments and classroom strategies that make learning accessible for all. Sue also oversees reading and spelling assessments, dyslexia screening and literacy based exam access arrangements.
Beyond direct support, Sue delivers regular training for staff and learners. She also leads on exciting literacy initiatives including World Book Day, along with overseeing our school library and audiobook resources.
Her passion for literacy and learning ensures that everyone at Wilds Lodge can discover joy and confidence in their reading and writing.
Educational Psychology
At Wilds Lodge, we’re fortunate to work with Adele, who is the Educational Psychologist across the four Newcombe Education Schools, and Sophie, our Educational Psychology Assistant. Together, they bring deep expertise in child and adolescent development.
Their work focuses on understanding each learner’s unique needs through psychological models and assessment, enabling staff to tailor approaches that support engagement and progress. Adele and Sophie also deliver regular training, consultations and, where appropriate, specialist assessments to inform EHCPs, annual reviews and exam access arrangements.
They work closely with staff, families and learners to ensure that every voice is heard and every learner is supported to achieve their full potential.
Occupational Therapy
Ellie, our Occupational Therapist, helps learners build confidence and independence by developing key life and learning skills.
Her work takes place throughout the school day in classrooms, specialist learning environments, and dedicated therapy spaces. Interventions are always tailored to each learner’s needs, with a focus on:
Access to Learning: Ensuring every learner can fully participate in lessons through adapted equipment, seating, or classroom strategies.
Daily Living Skills: Supporting practical life skills such as dressing, organisation, and personal care.
Emotional Regulation: Helping learners identify and manage emotions with structure, routines and visual tools.
Motor Skills: Developing fine and gross motor skills through fun, engaging activities.
Sensory Processing and Regulation: Supporting learners who experience sensory challenges with calming tools, movement breaks, and environmental adaptations.
Through Ellie’s guidance, learners gain greater comfort, focus, and independence in all aspects of school life.
Play Therapy
Jess, our Creative Therapy Lead, brings warmth and understanding to her work as a Play Therapist and Creative Arts Counsellor.
Play is a child’s natural language. In the safety of our therapeutic environment, learners can explore feelings, process experiences, and express themselves – often without needing to find the words.
Sessions may include art, drama, messy play, sand and water play, small-world play, puppetry, storytelling or music. Each session provides a consistent, secure space where learners can heal and grow.
Psychotherapy
Jade, our Therapeutic Counsellor and Psychotherapist, offers learners a calm and confidential space to explore their thoughts and feelings.
Using a blend of creative, mindful and talking approaches including art, guided meditation, and breathing techniques, Jade supports learners in developing self-awareness, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.
Her compassionate approach helps young people feel understood and empowered to progress.
Music Therapy
Jessica, our Music Therapist, uses the power of music to help children express themselves, connect with others and process their emotions.
Music Therapy sessions may involve playing instruments, songwriting, listening to music, recording, or using technology to create and mix sounds. Music Therapy can be especially valuable for children who may have experienced trauma at a pre-verbal level. As music can somatically tap into unconsciously held trauma, allowing creative release within the therapeutic relationship and helping learners to feel safe, understood,and connected.
Jessica’s sessions often spark creativity and collaboration, as learners support and inspire each other. Her work is deeply integrated into the wider therapeutic team, ensuring music becomes a joyful and healing part of daily life at Wilds Lodge.
Our Whole-School Commitment
At Wilds Lodge, therapy isn’t something that happens in a separate room, it is part of our school culture. Our multidisciplinary team works together every day to nurture each learner’s wellbeing, confidence, and potential.
Together, we help our learners grow emotionally, socially, and academically, so they can step into the world feeling ready, resilient and proud of who they are.