SEND school
Acorns School - Ashley, Altrincham
Acorn’s school is a specialist therapeutic school supporting pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs and learning difficulties across Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas. The school comprises two sites: the original school site in Marple, Stockport, and a second site, established in 2024, in Ashley, Altrincham.
Across both its sites, the school offers a nurturing, safe environment and a personalised approach that helps pupils who have faced challenging times re-engage with education. As an independent special school in England, Ofsted regulates it.

About
About Acorns School - Ashley, Altrincham
Acorns School is a specialist therapeutic school in Ashley, Altrincham, supporting children aged 11 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and learning difficulties — including those who have found it difficult to sustain mainstream education. We provide a nurturing, safe environment where every pupil is supported as an individual, helping children re-engage with learning at their own pace and build confidence alongside their academic progress.
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Headteacher: Paula Tankard
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Chair of Governors: James Madine
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Proprietor: Keys Stepping Stones Limited
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Ofsted: View report
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Address: Back Ln, Ashley, Altrincham WA15 0QH, UK
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Phone number: 0161 552 5130
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Supported needs
- SEMH
- Learning Disabilities

Resources
Documents & downloads
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- Ofsted report, standard inspection Current Ofsted · Inspected 21 April 2026 · Published 14 July 2026 · PDF · 270.9 KB
- Acorns Term Dates 2026 - 2027 PDF · 142.7 KB
- Acorns School Accessibility Policy PDF · 196.7 KB
- Acorns School Admissions Policy PDF · 211 KB
- Acorns School Allergy Safety Policy PDF · 190.7 KB
- Acorns School Alternative Provision Policy PDF · 316.7 KB
- Acorns School Anti Bullying Policy PDF · 196.8 KB
- Acorns School Assessment Policy PDF · 194.7 KB
- Acorns School Attendance Policy PDF · 278.2 KB
- Acorns School Behaviour Policy PDF · 285.3 KB
- Acorns School CEIAG Policy PDF · 193.1 KB
- Acorns School Children Missing Education Policy PDF · 184.4 KB
- Acorns School Complaints Policy PDF · 192.3 KB
- Acorns School Critical Incidents Policy PDF · 192.7 KB
- Acorns School Curriculum, SMSC and Fundamental British Values Policy PDF · 447.9 KB
- Acorns School Educational Visits and Off Site Activities Policy PDF · 378 KB
- Acorns School EAL Policy PDF · 176.1 KB
- Acorns School First Aid Policy PDF · 179.9 KB
- Acorns School Health and Safety Policy PDF · 176.4 KB
- Acorns School Medical Conditions and Medication Policy PDF · 191.4 KB
- Acorns School Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy PDF · 179.2 KB
- Acorns School Mobile Phone Policy PDF · 186.7 KB
- Acorns School Online Safety, Cyber Security and Acceptable Use Policy PDF · 181.9 KB
- Acorns School Positive Handling and Physical Intervention Policy PDF · 210.1 KB
- Acorns School Premises and Site Security Policy PDF · 189.4 KB
- Acorns School PSHE & RSHE Policy PDF · 222.2 KB
- Acorns School Risk Assessment Policy PDF · 277 KB
- Acorns School Safeguarding Policy PDF · 489.9 KB
- Searching, Screening and Confiscation Policy PDF · 186.3 KB
- Acorns School SEND Policy PDF · 182.1 KB
- Acorns School Staff Code of Conduct Policy PDF · 186.7 KB
- Acorns School Supervision Of Pupils Policy PDF · 183.3 KB
- Acorns School Suspension and Exclusion Policy PDF · 216.4 KB
Looking for an older Ofsted report? View all Ofsted reports
Useful information
Common questions
Who is Acorns School for?
Acorns School is for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and learning difficulties, including those who have found mainstream school difficult to sustain.
Where is Acorns School?
Acorns School is in Marple, Stockport. Referrals and enquiries are handled by the Keys education referrals team.
What type of education do you provide?
We offer:
A broad, balanced curriculum aligned with national expectations
Personalised learning plans tailored to each student
Opportunities to gain qualifications (e.g. GCSEs, functional skills)
Life skills and independence development
What makes Acorns School different?
Our approach focuses on:
Small class sizes and high staff-to-student ratios
Trauma-informed and therapeutic support
Strong emphasis on relationships and emotional wellbeing
Flexible, personalised pathways to success
How can a child be referred to an Acorns School?
Referrals are usually made through:
Local Authorities
SEN teams or EHCP processes
Social care or commissioning teams
You can also contact us directly, and we’ll guide you through the process.
Do students need an EHCP?
Most students have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), but we can discuss individual circumstances if this is still in progress.
What kind of support is available for students?
We provide a range of support, including:
Emotional and behavioural support
Therapeutic input (where required)
Pastoral care and mentoring
Structured routines and positive behaviour strategies
Who do I contact for more information?
You can contact our Business Development team or referrals team, who will:
Answer your questions
Guide you through the process
Help identify suitable placements
Connected Support
Support centred around each individual.
We call it Connected Support.
A network of Care, Education and Health services for children, young people and adults, seamlessly connecting specialist schools, alternative learning solutions, children’s homes, adult residential, supported living and health services and expertise.








