Visitor Feedback
I wanted to write this letter to you to tell you how much it means to our pupils to be able to use the facilities of the Willow Tree Centre.
As you know we are a special school for children with physical and medical disabilities located only about five miles away in Northolt in the London Borough of Ealing. Our pupils have a wide range of physical disabilities and about a third of them are wheelchair users, some have additional learning difficulties associated with their disability.
Ever since the Willow Tree Centre opened we have brought groups of children to stay for one or two weeks of the year. Although geographically close to our school the Centre seems a world away for the pupils. They feel to be ‘out in the country’ and appreciate the freedom that the play space gives them.
John Chilton pupil enjoying the assault course
These residential experiences are very important both for our pupils and their families. For the pupils they provide an opportunity to develop independence and social skills, for the families, a much needed respite. Our school is a fun place to be, both for the staff and the pupils, this appears to be effortless but it does require a lot of hard work and most of all a ‘can do – will do’ attitude. The residential experiences provide a major support in developing these positive attitudes and in developing the outstanding relationships between the pupils and the staff.
Last month I received a lovely letter from the mother of a Year 11 pupil who has just left us to go to a residential college, in the letter she expressed her belief that he could never have made that progression without the residential experiences we had given him at John Chilton.
In the future we hope to be able to use the facilities at the Willow Tree Centre even more than in the past. We hope to be able to make day visits to use the grounds and the excellent disabled facilities. The addition of a dedicated work/craft room would open up more opportunities for us and having an outdoor craft area which was fully wheelchair accessible would be wonderful.
Rob Heron – Deputy Head Teacher
John Chilton School
Willow Tree Centre was an excellent choice of venue for our key stage 2 activity week. We spent four fun filled days using the centres wonderful facilities. The Children particularly enjoyed the nightline, archery, orienteering and the wide open spaces.
The staff at Willow Tree were extremely helpful in making sure our time spent there went as smoothly as possible. Willow Tree provided our children with lots of new learning opportunities and we are already looking forward to next year.
Thank you Willow Tree for helping us to have a fantastic week.
Ciaran Walsh, Head of Key Stage 2
Hillingdon Manor School
It’s always a pleasure to come here. I think that this is the best traditional camp site I’ve been to in 30yrs of Scouting.
Philip Glass
1st Holtspur Cubs
The girls had a fantastic time again this year. Look forward to coming back.
Natalie Summers
14th Bushey Brownies
We love it – it’s so clean & new – very helpful & friendly ‘staff’.
Ruth Bannerman
2nd South Ascot Brownies
Excellent day, thank you.
Mike Edwards
The Hertfordshire Orienteering Club
Wonderful. I didn’t want to go home.
Pupil from Walnuts School, Milton Keynes
Lovely place, still well looked after and very comfortable! We had a great time thank you. We will be back.
2nd & 3rd Chesham Bois Brownies
Fantastic. Will definitely use again.
Grangewood School
We LOVE this site. Keep up the great work!
1st Park Street Guides
