Testimonials
The Send team and Hillcross as a whole have been supportive, caring, steadfast and full of knowledge and ideas for my child's overall wellbeing and mental health in and outside of school. Even though my child tried masking her additional needs, it was extremely quickly picked up and raised to me a few weeks into the start of reception. From there on, the school supported and worked closely with us to get our child the help and support they needed in the classroom. Even before my child’s EHCP was granted, she never went without the most generous care, extra time/explanations and compassion from the whole of the Hillcross team.
My child is fully supported from the start to the end of the school day and has physical and mental tools and tricks available if needed to help her.
The communication is well managed and I receive regular communication and if I have any questions or concerns, I email or phone the school and a member of staff gets back to me. Many times the staff have been a safe sounding board for me too, listening and offering tips and advice. We work together as a team. Overall, I am content, very happy and have complete peace of mind that my child’s education needs are being met, enabling her to have the best possible education while enjoying being at school learning and having fun in a world that can be difficult and confusing when you have additional needs.
Lynsey
February 2025
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Our daughter was showing signs of autism, including barely speaking at school even though she talks plenty at home. It would be so easy for a school to just accept a quiet, well-behaved child who can do their schoolwork to the right standard and look no further, but as autistic girls do tend to ‘mask’ (hide their struggles), Hillcross teachers raised possible concerns which we agreed with. They quickly made some adjustments in the classroom and began to support us with the lengthy process of getting a diagnosis. When we brought in an autism play therapist to work with our daughter at home, the school showed real willingness to engage with the therapist, implementing their suggestions and asking for particular topics or issues to be worked on to benefit her school day, which was greatly appreciated. Their SEND team is outstanding.
Ryan
September 2024
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Our son’s behaviour from about six started being problematic for his age and as we realised it was probably autism, the school also very gently raised this possibility. Once we agreed that it was likely, what impressed us was that Hillcross did not wait for a diagnosis (which took over a year to get) but instead immediately began implementing changes and elements such as ELSA as though he’d already been diagnosed, which was great. They supported us with emotional moments when he struggled with friendships as well as the endless paperwork, from getting a diagnosis to getting an EHCP and eventually gaining a place in a mainstream secondary school with a lot of assistance for autistic children. Year Six was a hard year for our son as he got very anxious about secondary school, and we were really grateful that Hillcross did everything they could to help him leave on a positive note and keep happy memories of primary school. The best thing about Hillcross was that throughout all the difficult times, both the SEND team and all the staff always remained positive about our son as a person and showed genuine affection for him so that we as a family knew he was not just cared for but cared about.
Melissa
July 2024
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Dear SEND Team,
I just wanted to write to you to say a huge THANK YOU to you and everyone on the SEND team for everything you have done for both Logan and Finley. From as soon as Logan started Hillcross you and the team picked up on his struggles and immediately put things into place to help and support him and make his learning easier and much more fun without making him feel like he was left out of what his friends were able to do. Through each year, Logan had full support of everyone at Hillcross, Steph, you were amazing, from the communication to both myself and Ryan, all the referrals you made to Logan right through to applying for an EHCP for Logan. I never knew how much work went into all this. Honestly, you deserve all the credit in the world. It’s because of you that Logan got his EHCP and myself and Ryan will forever be grateful to you and everyone in the SEND team for this. He’s now able to continue his education at high school and get the help he deserves, the help you all gave him at Hillcross.
Finley has now returned to Hillcross. We had recently moved him to another school closer to home, but he just wasn’t getting the right help and support that he should have been getting, and he didn’t enjoy it as much as Hillcross. We moved him back because we knew he would get the help he needed at Hillcross, because you go above and beyond to help him. To make his learning fun, he said when he moved schools, “Hillcross is more fun, learning is more fun there, they know how to help me." We couldn’t be happier with the support you are now giving Finley. We are now (or should I say you are) in the early stages of applying for an EHCP for him too and this would not have happened without the SEND team, without you, Steph so thank you.
We can’t express our appreciation enough, we are forever grateful to you all for all you have done for both the boys. You are all amazing.
Nikki Bennett
January 2024
