Friends of The Willows School

15/04/2026

🌍 Autism Awareness Month – A Proud Moment for Our School ⚽

We are incredibly proud to share that one of our Lower School teachers Mr Halloway has been featured by The Football Association during Autism Awareness Month.

The article, “Autism Awareness Month – A Refereeing Perspective”, highlights their personal journey and experiences within football, offering a powerful insight into how the game can be made more inclusive for everyone. It reinforces an important message – football truly is a game for all.

This feature not only celebrates their passion for refereeing, but also shines a light on the importance of understanding, inclusion and breaking down barriers for individuals with autism. Initiatives like this help raise awareness and encourage more opportunities within sport for all young people, highlighting what can be achieved when you put your mind to something!

At our school, we are proud to support and promote these values every day. Seeing members of our staff leading the way on a national platform is something we should all celebrate.

👉 You can read the full article here:

https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2026/Apr/13/Autism-Awareness-Month---A-Refereeing-Perspective

👏 Please join us in celebrating this fantastic achievement!

We speak to Tom Halloway about his journey and how his autism and refereeing influence each other

24/03/2026

Last week, Lee and Grant from Puzzled Training delivered an amazing First Aid training session to our Post 16 Students. All students were engaged and enjoyed the session which taught them some important life skills. Thank you to Puzzled Training and well done to everyone involved.

02/02/2026

We're taking part in the Pride of Yorkshire sculpture trail this year to raise money for Sheffield Children's Hospital. We have been invited to decorate a lion cub which will become part of the trail around South Yorkshire later in the year.

Our Lion cub is inspired by "Imogen's World", a significant art exhibition by Imogen Carline, a young, non-verbal autistic artist from Doncaster. We were drawn to her vibrant creations which offer a powerful glimpse into neurodiversity through creativity. This was the catalyst to our theme - Be Bold, Be Brave, Be YOU!

Our design is a celebration of all of our students, their uniqueness and their creativity – every student at The Willows will create a small piece which celebrates their individuality, and will be put together to form a bold, vibrant, tactile collaboration.

Our aim is to raise £1000 through a few little fundraising events and through our little student-run shop.

We're thrilled to have been chosen to take part in this event as Sheffield Children's Hospital is a place close to so many of our families hearts. If you would like to help us reach our target, please donate if you can. Every single penny goes to Sheffield Children's Hospital to support them in the incredible work they do.

Look out for updates of the design of our lion cub throughout February, March and April!

Thank you for your support!

Miss Winson =)

https://trk.justgiving.com/f/a/q1BPwGG33cpfMOsDJg3OlA~~/AAME8RA~/BOhVfbqUeAud2umXUXhqSDbn6m5wJZdj4ZAygecjHuY5ruuSkGhYPuVbw6HG05aV7zukndOAN8iOHkv8fXoglgj9HEr1L8CMWF1c3JDYB8fcXsaqQfcGxXIF6UamkPS5fcYBBexcOkf1yRc4DLTySA46-x8CW4rXBQy_sY19-KhhtkRxDoU8DWpvAYlAmt5OhTsv2cLFqMqq9u2YLH7CVDz9cV5gqXyKUtYV5x69pak_IdbxumEwYelKFpIFXXSXk3qL6Gx8xhB3gr3UjXPlXqRumk3Zs3qfScX7yuSTOMa5Aota9XJHIGV3kZCQ24XqqszuwJXo8cTp1SMEHMMaI9BCP2_xDqizP74-kPeed1ZZ7s47-ar-U-qgeDolbrulFjc5tyl-drl97TfsOoHK6Q~~

12/07/2025

We love Aqua-Tek, and we know you do too! But sometimes, offering a quieter space can make all the difference 🧡

After listening to your thoughts, we are now offering SEND friendly Aqua-Tek sessions with managed capacity for those looking for a more relaxed visit to our splash zone. 🚿 💧

These sessions are for visitors with access needs, including (but not limited to) physical, sensory, cognitive, or communication needs. Carers, family members, and support workers are welcome too! 🤝

We have 3 sessions booked in for Summer 2025: 📆
Sunday 27th July | 10:30am – 12:30pm 🔥SOLD OUT🔥
Wednesday 13th August | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Sunday 24th August | 10:30am – 12:30pm

We recommend pre-booking these due to their limited capacity. Don't forget you'll either need standard tickets or your Annual Pass as well!🎟️

Get your tickets here: https://visitmagna.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/68368?catID=65145&