01695 733050 
enquiries@careafloat.co.uk
Independent SEMH Mixed Senior
Day School St Helens
The Learn 4 Life Difference
A warm and welcoming school where nurture and excellent pastoral care complement innovative teaching to create the best environment for children to achieve their potential.
Our staff
Floating classroom
Curriculum
Newsletter
“Our aim is to nurture young people to become happy healthy active citizens within their own communities.”
James McAlpine BA (HONS) NPQH
Headteacher
Founded in 2005, our school is located in a small village - Ashton in Makerfield. Our small therapeutic school is brought to life by the positive energy of our pupils and staff who enjoy learning and working together here.
Our school is small enough to know everyone here yet large enough to offer a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the needs of the individual.
We provide education to 11-16 year old SEMH learners and those with EHCP’s. As a result, children and young people excel with us not only academically but socially as well.
As a school we recognise that just gaining qualifications will not equip our learners with the necessary skills for the ever-changing world in which we live. We therefore provide many opportunities for independence, careers and other vocational routes that inspire our young people.
We also have access to a narrow boat which we call Charmaine, our floating classroom. The boat is located near Ormskirk and is a wonderful resource for scientific projects as well as much more.
At the heart of the school’s ethos, “Learning for life, Learning for skills. Change your story!” is the belief that all young people, whatever their background or ability, will be successful and valued and that their welfare and safety is of paramount importance. We believe that our students can write their futures through education.
Our motto breathes through everything we do at the school. We believe all children and young people hold the power to rewrite their futures to successful ones.
A LOVE OF LEARNING
We nurture our children and young people into happy and confident people who are actively engaged with shaping their futures. Our children and young people want to engage with their communities and gain a passion for lifelong learning.
Our forward-thinking approach ensures that the learners needs are met academically, personally, socially, and emotionally. We can support all learners to make achievements and good progress throughout their learning journey.
"Pupils enjoy coming to this welcoming, friendly school. They are cared for in a safe and nurturing environment."
Ofsted 2025
"The school has high expectations for pupils’ achievement. In many subjects, the school has ensured that this vision is realised. Pupils are working towards more formal qualifications such as GCSEs."
Ofsted 2025
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
School life is about so much more than the academic results and the education. Opportunities on offer at Learn 4 Life School extend well beyond the classroom.
The curriculum is enhanced through school trips and visiting speakers; both of which help to widen and deepen the learners understanding as well as linking their learning to the world around them.
All learners can engage in many extracurricular activities we have on offer here from joining local teams and groups to engaging in themed weeks. Learners are engaged in a wide range of activities and they are also encouraged to find an interest that suits their needs.
Right from the start learners are engaged in school trips to various sites of worship, local museums, engaged with physical education and other activities that help to develop the whole child. We are also looking at starting our very own forest school!
Learners make use of the shared opportunities and experiences at Learn 4 Life School to build great relationships with their peers that last for a lifetime.