Little Heath is a Flagship School

June 12, 2026

---

Little Heath School has undertaken incredible inclusive work. The school has a sense of warmth and engagement, bringing together all staff and pupils. Pupils trust and respect the adults who work in the school, and learning is made enjoyable. Parents are engaged in the school and say that teachers know their children very well and are always available to give advice and support. As a specialised school for autistic people, Little Heath has a focus on regulation, sensory support and life skills. The school has introduced a semi-formal suite including five new classrooms and an independent life studio flat which allows pupils to practise practical skills on a day-to-day basis. The school provides a number of sensory programmes, including the Attention Autism approach which teaches skills such as waiting and taking turns, and pre-formal class sessions which involve touch and tactile experiences such as draping soft coloured scarves.

The six- form provision is on another site, about a mile from the main site. Extensive refurbishments of part of a primary school have been undertaken making the setting appropriate for the 70 pupils from Little Heath. The classrooms are large and airy with wide corridors which all form part of the necessary low-arousal environment. Pupils were all on task and very focused on their lessons as I made a tour. Half of the school population were off-site taking part in community learning either at a local agricultural learning centre, the Jungle café or on work experience.

A strong curriculum

Little Heath School has developed a strong curriculum and assessment system. Professional development groups have been established to help teachers share knowledge and work collaboratively. A high-quality curriculum framework has been put in place for each of the core subjects. The school works with the Local Authority to ensure that all pupils receive the best quality teaching. Learning pathways are carefully designed with key milestones and concrete end points.

Embedding inclusive strategies

Trauma Informed Practice and Autism Specific strategies have been a focus of Little Heath School. The school is involved in a SEMH project under the remit of Redbridge Education and Inclusion Services. This project is linked to trauma informed practices and developing pupils’ emotional regulation. It has involved a staff training programme based on ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) informed care, neuroscience, preventative approaches, crisis approaches and restorative conversations. A new relational policy has been shared across the school.

ELSA sessions are taking place in the school with identified students. These sessions have helped increase confidence, self-regulation and better engagement.

Developing skills

Sixth form pupils have the opportunity to develop their employability skills at the Jungle Café in Ilford. The school tuck shop is also run by pupils. Sixth form pupils spend half their curriculum time taking part in lessons, and half working in the café, supported by teachers.

On leaving the 6^th form, all pupils had a training or work-based destination: no pupils are NEET. Pupils made coasters for a Dragon’s Den initiative with other schools in the area. They pitched the product and won the Award! They sold the coasters at Christmas to parents and staff. It was a very successful project.

Pupils are encouraged to be part of the local community, and all pupils are equipped with careers experience and skills upon leaving school.

We are proud to award Flagship status to Little Heath School.