The school promotes independence, communication, employability skills and personal development. Pupils follow personalised programmes within the Preparing for Adulthood Framework, with teaching that links learning to real-life contexts, ensuring students are confident, active contributors in both their community and future workplaces.

What is life like at Swiss Cottage School?

Swiss Cottage School Sixth Form embraces the Preparing for Adulthood Framework to support pupils to develop their Employability Skills, Independent Living, Relationships, Friends, Community Engagement and Good Health lifestyles.

Teaching and learning is through real world opportunities where skills can be holistically developed within real-life contexts. For example, through engaging in independent travel training, pupils can develop skills in a range of areas such as independence, community engagement, problem solving, literacy and numeracy. Teaching teams work with a range of specialists and professionals to track progress against termly targets and to identify personalised next steps for each pupil.

Provision starts with promoting pupils’ own choice, voice and advocacy in their learning, and is driven by promoting routes into employment for young people with special educational needs. Our vocational learning programme includes the SC EmployMe programme, which incorporates four areas of local industry for pupils to understand the applications of the work environment:
– Manufacturing & Creative Design (including our studio workspace in the community as well as an onsite workspace)
– Retail & Admin (office skills include running our online card & design shop)
– Hospitality & Catering (in-house café running an ordering service for staff)
– Horticulture & Maintenance (upkeeping the grounds at school)

A community studio workspace as well as an online shop, each selling products made by the pupils themselves, allows for an in-house structured work experience placement for pupils. The school works closely with external partners, including Mencap and the London Central Careers Hub, to build sustainable links with employers and community organisations for work experience placements in local organisations such as London Zoo, The Wallace Collection, local shops (e.g. Boots and Waitrose), Farms & Community Gardens.

What extra activities and clubs can students do?

Opportunities for enrichment within the school day at Swiss Cottage include drumming, trampolining, horse-riding, swimming, accessing local amenities including museums, parks, local shops and cafés, and enjoying employment workshops from local employers such as Greene King, SISK Construction, Wellcome Collection amongst others. Vocational enrichment options are personalised to pupils’ preferences, with popular options including preparation and delivery of the ‘Toastie & Treat’ or the ‘Best Barista’ in-school service.

What facilities do we offer?

Swiss Cottage School is in a modern building (erected 2012) designed to be fully accessible to pupils with a range of sensory and physical needs. We have a range of dedicated spaces to realise our sixth form curriculum vision, including an office space, a general store, an art room with a kiln, and a life skills kitchen and a hydrotherapy pool. The school also has an off-site studio provision within a community hub in Kentish Town. For the sixth form in particular, much of the pupils’ provision will be supported within the local community, with regular trips and visits personalised for different pupils.

How are students supported and included?

Support and inclusion are at the heart of the Swiss Cottage ethos, shaped by personalised pathways and a strong multi-disciplinary approach. Every pupil has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which is translated into a Personalised Learning Intention Map (PLIM). Progress is carefully tracked using systems such as Evidence for Learning and MAPP, ensuring teaching is targeted and learning is measurable.

Teaching and learning are consistently rated highly by Ofsted. Staff design a bespoke curriculum that is ambitious yet accessible, focusing on communication, independence and functional skills. Each pathway is adapted to the student’s individual needs across the four broad areas of Special Educational Needs, with Communication and Cognition as the pillars of each curriculum pathway. Teachers, therapists and support staff work closely together, supported by external professionals such as NHS therapists, CAMHS and social care, to deliver joined-up provision.

As with the rest of the school, the sixth form also prioritises wellbeing and behaviour. Positive Behaviour Support and trauma-informed practice underpin the culture, creating a safe, empathetic environment where achievements are celebrated.

As a Centre of Excellence, Swiss Cottage School Sixth Form extends its inclusive practice into the wider community, training educators across London and beyond. This combination of personalised teaching, holistic care, family engagement and community leadership ensures students are fully supported, empowered and included as they prepare for adulthood.

What are the entry requirements?

A young person is eligible to be offered a place at Swiss Cottage School if they meet the following criteria:

• They have a Statement of Educational Needs, Education Health Care Plan or are undergoing a statutory assessment of their needs
• The needs of the learner could be met within our school’s resources without adversely affecting other pupils currently attending
• There is consensus among professionals that the learner would benefit from our provision which is considered by the Camden Special Educational Needs Team
• The needs are significant and affect most areas of learning across the four broad areas of Special Educational Needs

All applications to the school must come through Camden SEN. We do not accept direct applications to the school, as all places are allocated via the Camden SEN Panel. This ensures that every child has their individual case considered.