Riverside Bridge School is a specialist school within Partnership Learning Trust and the only special school within the Trust. We provide education for pupils aged 4–19 with a wide range of complex special educational needs and disabilities.
All pupils attending Riverside Bridge School have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or are in the process of statutory assessment. Pupils may present with a range of needs, including autism, speech, language and communication needs, moderate to profound learning difficulties and additional sensory, physical or social and emotional needs.
To support pupils in accessing learning and achieving their potential, we provide a range of specialist support services, including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology, Counselling and Play Therapy. These services work closely alongside teaching staff to ensure that support is integrated into everyday learning and linked directly to pupils' individual needs and outcomes.
Our approach
At Riverside Bridge School, we believe that education should be adapted to the individual, not the other way around.
Our provision combines a personalised curriculum, therapeutic support and a strong focus on communication, independence and wellbeing. Pupils learn within curriculum pathways that reflect their stage of development, ensuring that learning is appropriate, engaging and accessible.
Teaching, support and interventions are carefully adapted to meet individual needs, enabling pupils to make meaningful progress and achieve their personal outcomes.
Assessing progress and outcomes
Pupils' progress is monitored through ongoing assessment, regular review and close collaboration with families.
Each pupil works towards personalised targets linked to their EHCP outcomes. Progress is reviewed throughout the year and formally discussed during annual review meetings, where families, school staff and external professionals work together to plan next steps and future provision.
This ensures that learning remains purposeful, relevant and focused on long-term success.
Working in partnership with families
Families play a vital role in every pupil's education.
We value the knowledge, experience and insight that parents and carers bring and believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential for successful outcomes.
Communication is regular and responsive, with opportunities for families to engage through parents' evenings, annual reviews, school events and day-to-day communication. Our aim is to ensure that families feel informed, involved and supported throughout their child's journey.
Multi-agency support
Many pupils benefit from support from a range of professionals and services.
We work closely with speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, health professionals, social care teams and other specialist services to ensure that support is coordinated and responsive to individual need.
This collaborative approach helps us build a detailed understanding of each pupil and provide support that is consistent across education, health and care.
The Local Offer
Riverside Bridge School is part of the Barking and Dagenham Local Offer, which provides information about services and support available for children and young people with SEND across education, health and social care.
The Local Offer can be accessed via the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham website and provides guidance for families seeking additional support and services.
https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/local-offer
Admissions
Admissions to Riverside Bridge School are managed by the Local Authority through the Education, Health and Care Plan process.
Parents and carers cannot apply directly to the school. Placements are considered through consultation with the Local Authority, which determines whether Riverside Bridge School is able to meet a pupil's identified needs.
We encourage prospective families to visit the school where possible to gain an understanding of our provision, curriculum and approach.
Further information
For more detailed information about our SEND provision, please see the documents below:
These documents provide comprehensive information about how we identify, assess and support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.