Now Accepting Referrals for 2024/25

A Warm, Safe Place to Learn and Grow

Specialist alternative provision for neurodivergent children in Wirral

We support children in Years 1–6 who are finding mainstream school hard right now — because of anxiety, EBSA, SEND or trauma. We help them feel safe, confident and ready to flourish.

Talk to Our Team Find Out More
Safeguarding on site
EHCP aligned
Specialist team
100%
Child-led approach
Wirral
Based in Upton Village
Y1–6
Primary age specialist provision
MDT
Qualified teachers, therapists & practitioners
Cookie
Our very friendly therapy dog
Children enjoying outdoor learning at Wirral Rise
Children playing at Wirral Rise therapeutic hub
Learning activities at Wirral Rise
Wirral Rise children's activity session
Wirral Rise therapeutic hub environment
Wirral Rise learning environment
Wirral Rise team
Cookie the therapy dog at Wirral Rise
Life at Wirral Rise

A Warm, Busy, Brilliant Place to Be

Our hub is cosy and calm — full of learning, laughter and a very friendly dog. Here's a little glimpse inside.

The Wirral Rise therapeutic learning hub interior
Our Therapeutic Hub in Upton Village
Child learning at Wirral Rise
Hands-on Learning
Children doing activities at Wirral Rise
Creative Activities
Outdoor play and learning at Wirral Rise
Outdoor Play & Nature
Wirral Rise learning environment
Calm, Safe Spaces
For Everyone

Whether You're a Child, a Parent or a Teacher — We're Here for You

Wirral Rise is a friendly place. Here's a quick look at what you'll find here depending on who you are.

Hello children!

This Place is for You

If school has been feeling really hard lately — that's okay. At Wirral Rise, you can come and learn in a calm, cosy place where you feel safe. There's no pressure. We go at your pace.

  • You get to help choose what you learn about
  • Our space is quiet, calm and not like a big school
  • You can meet Cookie — our friendly therapy dog
  • Our team genuinely care about you
  • You can make new friends and have fun learning
Say Hello
For parents & schools

We Know How Worrying This Can Be

If your child is struggling to get to school, you're not alone and neither are they. Wirral Rise is a specialist team who understand — and we'd love to have a friendly, no-pressure chat.

  • We work closely with you every step of the way
  • Personalised plans aligned to your child's EHCP
  • Regular updates so you always know how things are going
  • Schools: we work with you to plan a safe return to mainstream
  • LA-funded placements considered — we'll help you navigate it
Let's Have a Chat
Our Approach

A Different Kind of Learning — One That Works for Your Child

At Wirral Rise, we believe every child deserves to enjoy learning. We provide specialist alternative provision for children in Years 1–6 who are neurodivergent or finding mainstream school overwhelming — whether that's due to anxiety, EBSA, demand avoidance or trauma.

Our aim is always to help children return to mainstream school when they feel ready — not before. We work at the child's pace, building confidence, trust and a genuine love of learning along the way.

Child-Led, Interest-Based Learning

Children help choose what they explore. That makes learning actually enjoyable — and it works.

Genuine Specialists Who Really Care

Our team includes neurodevelopmental practitioners, qualified teachers, a speech & language therapist and Cookie.

Always Working Towards a Happy Future

Everything we do supports children toward a safe, confident return to mainstream when the time is right.

Children enjoying outdoor learning activities at Wirral Rise Children learning at Wirral Rise Cookie the therapy dog at Wirral Rise
"Wirral Rise aims to offer a safe, nurturing and structured environment for children whose needs cannot be fully met in mainstream settings."
EHCP Sections E & F aligned learning plans
Indoor learning, community outings & nature
Therapeutic hub designed to reduce anxiety
Sport, physical activity & sensory regulation
Regular updates to school, family and LA

Meet Cookie — Our Therapy Dog

Cookie is a very important member of the Wirral Rise team. She's warm, gentle and brilliant at helping children feel calm and at ease the moment they walk through the door. A lot of our children say she's their favourite thing about coming in — and honestly, we can't argue with that.

What We Offer

How We Support Your Child

We offer a range of specialist support — all woven into a warm, everyday experience rather than separate, clinical sessions.

EBSA Support

We specialise in Emotionally Based School Avoidance. We understand the anxiety behind non-attendance and work patiently to help children feel safe enough to come back — at their own pace.

SEND & EHCP Provision

Every child's learning plan is built directly around their EHCP (Sections E and F). We work with schools and local authorities to make sure statutory needs are fully and properly met.

Neurodevelopmental Programmes

Our specialist neurodevelopmental practitioners deliver personalised programmes for autism, ADHD, PDA, demand avoidance and sensory processing differences.

Speech & Language Therapy

Our specialist Speech and Language Therapist is embedded into daily provision — not an add-on. Therapy is woven into everything we do for maximum, natural impact.

Emotional Regulation & SEMH

We help children understand their own emotions and develop the tools to manage them. A calmer, more regulated child is a child who can learn — and that's at the heart of everything we do.

Academic Learning

Qualified teachers deliver personalised literacy, numeracy and curriculum learning — shaped around each child's interests, strengths and pace, so that learning is actually enjoyable.

Who We Help

Is Wirral Rise Right for Your Child?

We support children in Years 1–6 across Wirral and Merseyside. Here's a guide to who we can help.

Years 1–6 (Ages 5–11)

Primary-age children struggling to access education in a mainstream setting.

Neurodivergent Children

Autism, ADHD, PDA, sensory processing differences and other neurodevelopmental profiles.

EBSA & Anxiety

Verbal learners experiencing EBSA, anxiety or demand avoidance that is preventing regular attendance.

Trauma-Affected Children

Children whose access to education is affected by adverse childhood experiences or trauma.

At Risk of Exclusion

Pupils at risk of permanent exclusion who need a supported, therapeutic alternative placement.

Not sure if we can help? Just ask us

Calm, Homely Hub

Designed to feel welcoming, not institutional

Predictable Routines

Safe, consistent rhythms that support regulation

Outdoor Learning

Nature, sport and community adventures

Cookie Our Therapy Dog

Instantly makes children feel at ease

Our Hub

A Friendly, Cosy Space in the Heart of Upton Village

We're based at 143–145 Ford Road in Upton Village, Wirral — a welcoming, warm space that feels nothing like a traditional classroom. Every corner is designed to help children feel safe, relaxed and ready to learn.

From quiet zones to outside exploration, our hub gives children room to breathe, regulate and discover what they're capable of — without the pressure of a big school environment.

143–145 Ford Road, Upton Village, Wirral CH49 0XB
07515 117816
admin@wirralrise.com
Our People

The Wirral Rise Team

Our brilliant team brings together specialist knowledge, warmth and a genuine passion for helping children thrive. Oh — and Cookie.

Jayne Foley, Director of Wirral Rise

Jayne Foley

Director

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mike Jones, Provision Lead

Mike Jones

Provision Lead

Deputy DSL (DDSL)
Sam McHugh, Neurodevelopmental Practitioner

Sam McHugh

Neurodevelopmental Practitioner & Learning Facilitator

SENDCO
Cath Downs, Neurodevelopmental Practitioner

Cath Downs

Neurodevelopmental Practitioner & Learning Facilitator

Hayley Jennings

Neurodevelopmental Practitioner & Learning Facilitator

Anoushka Shewhorak

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Neurodevelopmental Practitioner
Cookie the therapy dog at Wirral Rise

Cookie

Official Therapy Dog & Chief Morale Officer

Head of Wellbeing
For Schools

Working With Schools Across Wirral

We understand the pressure schools are under. If you have a pupil who is struggling to attend or access learning, we'd love to talk — no pressure, no jargon, just a friendly conversation about how we might help.

We work closely with your SENCo, class teacher and the local authority to ensure a joined-up approach, with the shared aim of getting the child back to mainstream school in a way that lasts.

  • Regular written and verbal progress updates for school and family
  • EHCP annual review contributions and supporting evidence
  • Collaborative transition planning for return to mainstream
  • LA-funded places accepted (subject to assessment)
  • DSL on site — safeguarding-compliant provision at all times
Discuss a Referral Statement of Services
EHCP Aligned Curriculum

What We Teach and How

Communication and Interaction

Cognition and Learning

Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

Physical and Sensory Needs

Functional Independence and Life Skills

Literacy, Numeracy and Academic Development

Why Alternative Provision Works

Benefits of Sending Primary Children with Neurodevelopmental Diagnoses to Alternative Provision

Research and practice consistently show that the right specialist placement at the right time makes a transformative difference — for the child, for the family, and for the placing school.

Wirral Rise Statement of Services

Download our full Statement of Services — a comprehensive overview of our provision, approach, team, referral process and curriculum offer. Ideal for SENCos, local authority commissioners and families.

Download (.docx)
01

Experienced and Specialist Staff

Staff in alternative provisions have deep expertise in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD and PDA. Children receive targeted, knowledgeable support from practitioners who truly understand their profile — not generalist provision stretched to fit.

02

Reduced Pressure on Mainstream Schools

Senior leaders are no longer tied up managing complex, high-need presentations. The whole-school environment becomes calmer and more focused, benefiting every pupil — while the child with complex needs gets the specialist input they actually require.

03

Preventing Escalation of Mental Health Difficulties

By providing the right support early, alternative provision can prevent the escalation of anxiety, demand avoidance and emotional dysregulation. Early intervention is far more effective — and far less costly — than crisis intervention later.

04

A Bespoke Curriculum Tailored to Individual Needs

Alternative provisions offer a flexible, individualised curriculum built around each child's EHCP outcomes, learning style, interests and current capacity. Children engage, progress and — crucially — enjoy learning again.

05

Reducing Disruption to Whole-Class Learning

With children receiving targeted support in a suitable specialist setting, the mainstream classroom becomes a more consistent and settled learning environment for all pupils — a benefit that extends to teachers, TAs and the wider school community.

06

Increased Long-Term Educational Engagement

Children who receive appropriate specialist support in primary school are significantly more likely to remain engaged in education at secondary level and beyond. The investment made now pays dividends for the rest of a child's educational journey.

Get in Touch

We'd Love to Hear From You

Whether you're a parent worried about your child, a school looking for support, or just want to find out more — please do reach out. We're friendly, we don't bite, and we're always happy to chat.

Visit Us

143–145 Ford Road
Upton Village
Wirral CH49 0XB

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We'll get back to you within one working day. No jargon, no pressure — just a friendly chat.

143–145 Ford Road, Upton Village, Wirral CH49 0XB

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