Special School Head Testimonials
OFSTED praise Stoneworks Education Ltd 'Starting School Storybook'
The OFSTED team reviewed our transition arrangements and noted the book produced by Stoneworks Education Ltd. They said that the illustrations and ideas within the book were exemplary, enabling children to be prepared for joining the school.
Russell Hinton, Head, The Brier School
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It’s such a fantastic, family-friendly idea. The perfect transition tool, in that it actually illustrates our school, and ‘storyboards’ the main worries that children have when starting a new school. It helps children to get used to the school before they have even started.
"Not only does our bespoke Storybook excite children and share starting school information, but it helps children to recognise, through the thoughts and feelings of the children in the book, that it’s normal to be nervous. It encourages them to talk about their feelings with their parents, and ask questions.Bethan Price
Head, Llanharan Primary School. -
What a brilliant idea for special schools. To use parent stories to tell the story of your school. Who better to tell families with children who have special needs, about the benefits of attending your school, than parents of children with special needs!
These special school parent studies are moving, informative and totally compelling. They are the most powerful tool to show what our school really does and how it works. And, most importantly, to show how our wonderful pupils develop and flourish in our fantastic school! All special schools should be doing this. It’s the future of special schools communication to parents and children!Shan Wynn-Jones
Headteacher, New Fosseway School -
Stoneworks Education have produced some fantastic materials for us. This approach was simply revelatory. The unique, parent and pupil friendly literature will absolutely help us to show parents and pupils what we offer, and demonstrate the positive impact we can have on their lives. By using personal testimonies in the case studies, and then using these testimonies in our prospectus, it has transformed how, and what, we can communicate to families.
I’d recommend Stoneworks Education to other special schools. It really does seem, the way forward for special school marketing and communications. You need to manage your school reputation, and Stoneworks can help with this.Clare Traynor
Deputy Head, Hope School -
Stoneworks Education really seem to go the extra mile and supply innovative literature. They are more than just very creative and easy to work with; they really do want the best for their clients. The content and testimonials most definitely helps parents understand the ethos of a special school and the support they can offer over and above the education of their child. By developing parent case studies for us, they have given us a very powerful key-tool, enabling us to better tell our whole school story and show prospective parents just what we can do for their child and their family. It’s inspiring!
I don’t know of any other special school that has done this and I’d say it’s the way forward for marketing special schools. Stoneworks literature is all about ‘heart’, professionalism and impact!Celia Dickinson
Headteacher, Cavendish High Academy -
Our Parent Information Directory contains everything our parents need to know for their child's year at school, in one place! Covers all school years too!
It's a fantastic, school and family-friendly way, to collate everything and present it an easily understood way for parents. Its always a good idea to look afresh at what you want your parents to know and understand, and the process of developing this Directory has done that.
We also have a 'Parent Handbook: taking you step-by-step through starting school', which is our parent transition tool. There is a great deal more to tell parents though, but if you placed it all in the transition document it would be much larger, making it difficult for parents to read it all and understand it all. You need to present different levels of information at more suitable, and scheduled times. And our Parent Information Directory does just that! We use our Parent Handbook to transition parents in to our school, and the Directory to help guide them through the school yearGary Smith
Head, Market Field School. -
Our prospectus has been absolutely transformed with the inclusion of real parent stories. Giving parents a voice allows one to see what is often difficult to show: the meaningful and positive impact that our school for deaf children has on children and their families. The stories are inspirational and informative for new parents and children… showing how they would benefit from attending our school.
We couldn't have done this without Stoneworks Education, who had the case study idea in the first place. Through their dedication, experience and creativity, they have provided us with a fantastic record and marketing tool! They could not have been easier to work with; efficient, flexible and friendly. I'd definitely recommend their services to other special schools!Deborah Jones Stevens
Headteacher, Heathlands School -
Stoneworks Education have been absolutely brilliant at totally transforming our marketing materials. They have highlighted the meaningful benefits of our school to professionals, Heads and parents. We can now use these materials to influence these different audiences and market segments.
I’d never seen such a unique and powerful way to market special schools before. It’s fantastic. The case studies portray our school so well from our parents' point of view. They are very well integrated into the prospectus and give a true sense of the ethos and work of our school. In fact, we received the prospectus today - it looks amazing. I am thrilled with it. Other staff are very pleased too. I’d definitely recommend Stoneworks to other special schools.Lucy Leith
Headteacher, Knightsfield School -
Parent stories are a fantastic way to tell the story of your school. No-one can tell the story better than families with children who have special needs. They are extremely powerful tools to show the benefits of pupils attending your school and are certainly read with interest by prospective parents. What better way to sell your school and its benefits!
The stories look professional and add even more interest to the school’s website. They are also a fantastic way of showing parent views about your school as opposed to any parent questionnaire the school sends out.Kairen Dexter
Headteacher, Bleasdale School -
Stoneworks Education produced a fantastic transition storybook for the Brier School. It is a highly original, parent and pupil-friendly way to help ease pupils in to the school and show what we do, and how we do it. Everybody was delighted with it! The storybook clearly shows that we have thought about what parents and pupils need.
They also produced a range a parent and pupil case studies for us. These personal testimonies are a great tool for showing prospective parents and pupils the very real positive difference that a special school can make to a pupil’s life, and therefore how the family greatly benefits too. I’d absolutely recommend Stoneworks Education to other special schools..Russell Hinton
Headteacher, The Brier School -
Case Studies: “As a PRU, most parents have very negative pre-conception of our school and the work that takes place here. The Case Studies have helped to open that ‘parent-to-parent’ communication channel, between those who have been pleasantly surprised by their child’s experiences here, and new parents who are understandably anxious about a referral.”
Starting School Storybooks: “As a PRU we have new pupils starting all year round. Pupils and parents typically have negative pre-conceptions about our school and these books have helped to make the difficult conversations that referring schools have with parents a little easier as they have something ’concrete’ to show them which explains what we do. Stoneworks were very patient and understanding with us in creating a very personalised book that defined our two discreet niche provisions and was written with a specific audience in mind.”
Parent Handbook: “Parents have lots of tedious paperwork to complete when their child is allocated to the PRU. This handbook brings it all together in a sleek and professional way and includes lots of information for them to hang onto. The parents have been pleased to receive one.”Jeanette Maynard
Head Teacher, Hawkswood Primary PRU & SEMH Provision says about three of our products: