Life at Beechwood College

Visiting and Transport

When/how often?

Family and friends are encouraged to visit but, given the needs of other students, it is preferred if these visits can be offsite where possible. Arrangements for visiting students at the College can be facilitated and should be made through a student’s key worker in advance, to minimise clashes with other arranged activities. We also request that visits are arranged outside of College hours to minimise the impact on students’ education attendance.

Parking at the College

The College has a car park that families and friends are welcome to use when visiting. This is accessed through an intercom at the main gates. Upon arrival please use the intercom to inform reception who you are and who you are visiting. Please be mindful that the car park is centrally located within the College campus and can become extremely busy at times. It is important to note that Beechwood College does not accept liability of any kind for damage caused to vehicles parked in our car parks.

Does the College provide transport to collect/return students?

The College will provide transport to access local community facilities in the course of the students’ educational day and during recreational hours for those students who have a residential placement.

Day Students

The College day starts at 9.00am and ends at 3.30pm, therefore all day students should be present between these times unless their absence has been formally requested and agreed by the Principal.

Weekly Boarding Residential Students

These students reside at the college from Monday to Friday and attend all educational sessions across the week, with residential activities taking place in the evenings. Weekly boarders return home at the end of the College day on a Friday and return for the start of the College week on Monday morning.

Term-time only Boarding Residential Students

These students reside at the College during all academic terms (38 weeks per year) and attend educational sessions Monday to Friday, with residential activities taking place during evenings and weekends. Students return home on the last day of term and return for the start of the new College term.

Bespoke Package Boarding Residential Students

These students attend the college during all academic terms and participate in educational sessions Monday to Friday, with residential activities taking place during the evenings and weekends, that they are funded to be with us.

Full Boarding Residential Students

These students attend the College during all academic terms and participate in educational sessions Monday to Friday. These students reside at the College for 52 weeks of the year and are supported to participate in a wide range of activities during evenings and weekends, including the 14 weeks of holiday time. Where appropriate, home visits are always an option for these students, however an agreement must be reached between all parties prior to visits being arranged.

Visiting during Educational Sessions

We understand that most parents will wish to have some involvement in their son or daughter’s education and look forward to receiving information on progress made during the College year. In line with many mainstream educational establishments we welcome involvement and arrange consultation evenings when you will be invited to attend and discuss all aspects of their education, residential care and clinical input with our staff. At the same time, we often hold exhibitions of work completed by our students which can be viewed. We are unable to allow visits to observe your son or daughter within the classroom itself.

Holidays During Term Time

In common with other establishments regulated by Estyn (the education and training inspectorate for Wales) we are obliged to monitor attendance and report back to the authority at set intervals. A high level of attendance enables students to progress in their learning and independence. We therefore seek the assistance of families to help keep absences to a minimum between Mondays and Fridays.

At Beechwood College we appreciate that there will always be a special holiday or family event that sometimes occurs during the educational week, and ask that either the Principal or her Deputy are approached well in advance to discuss the requested period of absence and to agree arrangements due to the technicalities of the placement agreements. This is particularly applicable in relation to holidays where failure to do this may result in funding queries being raised at a later date with the agencies and/ or education body paying for the placement.