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View all First Steps Together policies including safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, admissions, curriculum and more. Our policies At First Steps Together, our policies are carefully designed to uphold the highest standards of care, education, and safety for every child and young person we support. They reflect our commitment to inclusion, respect, and specialist provision, providing clear guidance for staff, families, and partners to help create a consistent, nurturing, and aspirational environment. Please see all our policies listed below. ADMISSIONS POLICY How we admit learners fairly ATTENDANCE POLICY How we monitor student attendance CAREERS AND WORK RELATED LEARNING POLICY How we guide future careers EAL POLICY How we support those with English as an additional language FIRST AID POLICY How we adminster first aid across our sites KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM How we deliver our Key Stage 3 curriculum PROVIDER ACCESS STATEMENT How we work with other providers REMOTE EDUCATION POLICY How we teach remotely ANTI-BULLYING POLICY How we prevent bullying across our schools BEHAVIOUR POLICY How we track behaviour of our students CHILD PROTECTION POLICIES How we protect our learners across our schools EXCLUSION POLICY How we manage exclusions KEY STAGE 1 + 2 CURRICULUM How we deliver our Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 curriculum KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM How we deliver our Key Stage 4 curriculum PSHE AND RSE POLICY How we teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic education and Relationships and Sex Education safely SEN POLICY How we support those with special educational needs

< All news Recruitment open day to offer face-to-face interviews 26 Jan 2026 Amid a new month, we are opening our office doors in Denton to highlight what could be your new role working in specialist education. A dedicated recruitment day will take place this Saturday, 31 January, at Crossgate House on Irwin Street, offering visitors the chance to discover a wide range of opportunities across the organisation. It will showcase the breadth of opportunities available and the meaningful impact each role has on the lives of young people. The event takes place between 10am and 3pm is open to anyone interested in joining the team, with no appointment required. Attendees will meet staff, learn about the roles available across First Steps Together’s schools, and gain an insight into the work the organisation does to support young people with additional needs. Emma Burgess, Head of People Services, said: "We’re experiencing phenomenal growth across First Steps Together, and it’s creating some fantastic opportunities for people who want to work with young people." She continued: "Our Recruitment Open Day is a chance for people to find out more about the remarkable work we do, the teams behind it, and the difference people can make here. If supporting young people is what drives you, this is absolutely the place to be." Those ready to take the next step will also have the opportunity to take part in on-the-day interviews. The aim is to remove barriers and make the process as accessible as possible for people looking to start or continue a career in the sector. Prospective applicants are asked to complete a short application form in advance via recruitment@fstmanagement.uk , helping the recruitment team prepare for discussions on the day and ensuring a smooth experience for visitors. We also ask that anyone attending brings ID as part of our Safer Recruitment checks, to help safeguard and protect young people. Car parking spaces are limited but road parking is available nearby, making it easy for attendees to reach our offices. Previous Next

< All news Colour and costumes fill classrooms on World Book Day 5 Mar 2026 World Book Day brought a wave of imagination across our schools with students embracing stories, characters and creativity. A massive well done goes to all our learners for the creativity that danced, skipped and zoomed through our classrooms. Handmade designs, vibrant face paint and clever props brought light and energy across our sites, with every idea adding something truly special to the day. One standout moment was our bee‑yond amazing bee Bluebell at Kershaw Wood, Glossop, dressed in bright wings and bold stripes. Another favourite was Eddie's brilliantly made book costume, complete with a painted globe and World Book Day lettering, a book you could say came with real character! Many staff joined in too, with virtual meetings kicking off with plenty of curiosity and costume‑spotting. One our classes headed out on a very special trip to the book shop. Using their World Book Day vouchers, students browsed the shelves and chose a book of their own to take home, a real highlight and fantastic way to celebrate the love of storytelling. First held in the UK in 1998, World Book Day has become a special moment in the calendar with schools up and down the land welcoming a range of personalised outfits. We know that many of our young people (and families!) put in plenty of time and effort to prepare such intricate costumes, so a huge thank you and congratulations for helping make the day so memorable. Previous Next

Learn how we deliver Key Stage 4 with focused, supportive teaching that helps students excel and build future-ready skills. Key Stage 4 Our Key Stage 4 curriculum is designed to help students become fully prepared for their next steps through both academic achievement and the development of social and vocational skills. We place great emphasis on promoting independence, confidence and self esteem, and we celebrate each individual learner, encouraging their personalities and interests to flourish. All students study English, Maths and Science, with the aim of achieving a qualification that reflects their level of ability and progress at that time. To support pupils in developing the skills they need for adult life, we provide lessons in PSHE, Beliefs and Values and PE, along with a range of enrichment opportunities which may include working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Where a student has a particular interest and it is appropriate for them to pursue it as a qualification, we will make every effort to support this. Our Key Stage 4 pathways follow a mainstream model but with small class sizes and a high level of personalised support. Pupils select two option subjects in addition to studying their core subjects. The list below shows an example of the qualifications and pathways available. These may vary each year depending on the needs and interests of the cohort. Core Subjects with Qualifications Offered • English Language: GCSE, Functional Skills Level 1 and Level 2, Entry Level • Maths: GCSE, Functional Skills Level 1 and Level 2, Entry Level • Science: GCSE, Entry Level • Key Pathway subjects as appropriate ASPIRE Pathway • Hair and Beauty • Travel and Tourism • Health and Social Care • Sports • Interactive Media ACHIEVE Pathway • Humanities • Expressive Arts • Sports and Fitness (not available if Sports is selected as the Key Pathway) • Computing All pupils have weekly timetabled sessions in PE, PSHE, Employability, Careers and Beliefs and Values. These lessons, combined with academic study and enrichment experiences, ensure that pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to move on successfully to further education, training or employment. Curriculum maps MATHS CURRICULUM MAP How we teach Maths in Key Stage 4 SCIENCE CURRICULUM MAP How we teach Science in Key Stage 4 ENGLISH CURRICULUM MAP How we teach English in Key Stage 4

< All news Attendance prizes announced for Spring Term 20 Jan 2026 The exciting prizes for the next two half‑term attendance draws have been confirmed by our Senior Head of School Ms Cooper. Students who achieve 100% attendance from January to February will be entered into a draw to win an iPad. For the following half term, February to March, the prize will be a bike. Ms Cooper said: "We know that every student’s journey is different and we want to recognise the effort it takes to be in school every day." She added: "These prizes are a way of celebrating their commitment and encouraging routines that help our young people feel secure and supported.” Previous attendance prizes have included items such as a Meta Quest 2. To be included in the draw, students must attend school every day during the relevant half term. Previous Next

Your gateway to First Steps Together's schools, which offer nurturing environments where every young person can learn and thrive. Schools MANCH ESTER KERSHAW WOOD MANCHESTER THE WATKIN DERBYSHIRE KERSHAW WOOD GLOSSOP TAMESIDE PEAK FOREST STANSFIELD HOUSE TAME BANK

< All news Parents' Evening reminder issued ahead of next week 19 Jan 2026 Our executive team are reminding parents of Parents' Evening which is taking place across our school sites throughout next week. The Watkin will host its session on Monday, 26 January, followed by Peak Forest and Kershaw Glossop on Tuesday, 27 January. Tame Bank is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 January, with Stansfield House concluding the week’s events on Thursday, 29 January. All Parents’ Evening sessions will run from 4.00pm to 6.00pm, with last entry at 5.45pm across all sites. The events are intended to give families the opportunity to meet teaching staff, tour the school facilities and discuss the progress pupils have made throughout the year. Addresses for our schools can be found on our school pages . In case of any further questions, please visit the contact us page for our details. Previous Next

Explore how we assess and track academic performance within our wide range of specialist schools. Performance As a newly established school provider, we do not yet have any published examination results. Our first cohort of pupils will reach the age for accredited assessments and statutory examinations this academic year, and we will begin reporting outcomes once these have been completed. In the meantime, we are committed to delivering a high‑quality and ambitious curriculum, and we monitor progress through rigorous internal assessment systems to ensure every pupil makes strong, meaningful progress from their individual starting points.

Learn how to apply to First Steps Together schools with guidance for families seeking supportive specialist education. Admissions Accepting new applications Applications are now open for September 2026! If you are looking for a supportive, specialist environment tailored to children and young people with additional needs, our schools provide high-quality education, designed to help every learner thrive. For more information please call 0330 118 0974 or email admissions@firststepstogether.uk .

Discover how we deliver Key Stage 3 through a broad, engaging curriculum that strengthens core knowledge and prepares students for the years ahead. Key Stage 3 Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is broad, balanced and shaped by the National Curriculum while being personalised to the individual needs of our pupils. Classes usually consist of no more than six learners, and any student who requires one to one support receives it. Pupils are placed into groups according to need, age and aptitude. We recognise that some learners are not yet ready for a full Key Stage 3 curriculum and may require scaffolded learning and further differentiated texts to ensure they can access and enjoy their lessons. Pupils study a wide range of subjects including Maths, English, Science, PE, Geography, History, PSHE, Art, Food Technology, Life Skills, Personal Development, RSE and Outdoor Education. They also have access to extracurricular activities through both internal opportunities and external partnerships, helping them broaden their experiences and interests. The aim of our Key Stage 3 provision is to ensure that pupils enjoy learning and understand its value while developing the knowledge and skills they need to move confidently toward Key Stage 4. Our combination of high quality educational input, therapeutic support and pastoral care helps pupils feel secure, motivated and ready for their next steps.

Explore First Steps Together's ACTIVE values which shape our nurturing respectful and community focused ethos. Values and ethos At First Steps Together, our values and ethos are the foundation of everything we do. They shape our vision, guide our actions, and inspire us to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. The 'active' principles Our ACTIVE values aren’t just words on a page, they shape every decision, every interaction, every day. We live them in action, creating a culture where everyone we work with thrives. We are... A UTHENTIC We act and communicate with authenticity and encourage everyone to be true to themselves. C REATIVE We develop creative ways of working and inspire others to spark new ideas. T OGETHER We work together and teach the value of collaboration and community. I NCLUSIVE We embrace diversity and champion acceptance and respect. V OCAL We advocate and support people in finding and using their authentic voice. E MPOWERING We advocate and support people in finding and using their authentic voice. These values are woven into the fabric of our school community, ensuring every decision and action reflects our commitment to the holistic development of each learner. Our ethos Individualised care and learning At First Steps Together, we believe in the boundless potential of every child. We are passionate about creating a safe, respectful, and supportive environment where young people can flourish academically, socially and emotionally. Our ethos revolves around these core beliefs: Every child matters: Every student has unique strengths, and we are dedicated to recognising and nurturing those talents. High expectations: We set ambitious goals for our students, empowering them to challenge themselves and achieve more than they ever thought possible. Personalised learning: We tailor education to meet individual needs, ensuring no one is left behind. Community and connection: We work closely with families, staff, and external partners to create a collaborative network of support. Prepared for the future: We aim to equip our students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need for a fulfilling life after school. Together, our values and ethos drive us to provide an education that is not just about academic success but about building well-rounded, compassionate individuals who are ready to embrace life’s opportunities and make a positive impact on the world.

Review transcripts of our podcasts, as we shine a light on specialist education and more. Podcast transcripts Each episode has been transcribed for accessibility. Please access below. Click on the microphone above to return to the podcast page. EPISODE 3 EPISODE 2 EPISODE 1