Skilts is a Residential Special School for primary age boys (National Curriculum Years 1-6; ages 5-11 years old) with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties with associated learning difficulties.

We are situated just outside Redditch in Worcestershire. The school is approximately 5 miles from the Birmingham boundary and is controlled by Birmingham Local Authority. We are open on weekdays and term time only, having a structure to currently support 62 pupils in the school day and 30 pupils each residential night.

We offer residential placement for up to 4 nights a week (hence pupils can stay 1, 2,3 or 4 nights, dependent upon their needs). Pupils have a wide variety of abilities from P Scales to Level 3-4, having general, rather than specific learning difficulties.

At present all pupils come originally from Birmingham but due to their level of difficulty, some have foster placements outside the City.

In the past places have been taken by neighbouring Authorities. All have received extra support to maintain a mainstream placement ie 1:1 support, intervention by the Behaviour Support Service and fresh start schools. They have all experienced either fixed term or permanent exclusion. Therefore each pupil has experienced a considerable amount of difficulty in a large group setting, most in most than one school. Pupils arrive from a variety of placements; mainstream, Pupil Referral Units or Special Schools and some have experienced time out of regular school.

The school philosophy is based on the belief that the individual needs of the child are paramount and that all pupils are able to make progress. We do this by encouraging a belief in each pupil, to increase self-esteem and self-respect along with the ability to socialise. We aim to provide places where the rights of individuals are respected. The process of learning the responsibilities associated with those rights are actively pursued throughout the school.

The central aim of the school is to provide a stable, safe, stimulating, healthy and mutually caring environment in such a way that the pupils may fulfil their educational potential and develop as individuals, both socially and emotionally.

The school acknowledges and supports the diverse ethnic, cultural and religious traditions of our pupils. The school values and appreciates the importance of the contribution of the parents and carers of our pupils to the learning environment and values them as part of our school community