Personalised Provision
- We have provision for pupils aged 4 to 16
- We have specialist classes for pupils with PMLD, ASC, SLD and MLD as we believe their learning environments need to be different
SLD (with/ without autism)and PMLD classes have a teacher who teaches them for all subjects , whereas some MLD classes (with / without autism) have specialist teachers for French, Maths, English, Drama, Music and Art. The emotional and learning needs of the pupils are considered when deciding how many teachers they experience during a school day.
Some pupils with Attachment needs have a key adult to provide emotional security through the day.
Lower Site
We have 12 classes on the Lower Site, each with the equivalent of 1 full time teacher and an average of 2 Teaching Assistants, although this varies according to each class' needs. The average class size is around 8 pupils. All pupils have individualised targets set across the whole curriculum, called Next Steps. These are set and reviewed termly. All children have Home/School Books and some classes also send a class email home daily with more general information. We have two parent/teacher consultations per year. Annual review meetings for your child's EHCP are held.
Upper Site
We have 13 classes in the Upper Site school each with the equivalent of 1 full time teacher and an average of 2 Teaching Assistants, although this varies according to each class' needs. The average class size is around 9 pupils. All pupils have individualised targets set across the whole curriculum, called Next Steps . These are set and reviewed termly. Some children have home/school books and we telephone parents regularly to explain issues that have happened at school or pass on praise for positive behaviour or work.
We have two parent/teacher consultations a year. Annual review meetings for your child's EHCP are held.
Curriculum Offer
Pupils are taught in small classes which are sometimes split into smaller groups for activities.
Lessons are differentiated to allow for personalised learning and to cover the range of ability in each class.
As a special school all our staff are experienced and creative in making learning accessible and meaningful, with scaffolding for communication and recording built into our practice. Repetition and breaking down learning into small steps is integral to our practice.
All children receive a broad and balanced curriculum as in a mainstream school but our pupils are not working at age appropriate levels so we offer a highly adapted and differentiated curriculum.
Some pupils in Key Stage 4 follow exam courses at their level, this could mean Pathways Entry Level qualifications which are below the level of GCSE.
We offer a play based curriculum for pupils of all ages who are working at an experiential and practical level. For pupils who do not record their learning formally we create rich evidence of their learning through video, photographs and annotation.
Holistic Support for your child
We are a small school which enables us to have a family feel, with all staff and pupils knowing each other well.
All staff receive appropriate training in Administration of Medications, Hygiene and Intimate Care, Epilepsy, Epi Pens, Gastrostomy Feeds, Catherisation, Oxygen and Suctioning etc. Whatever your child's medical needs we have the support of a School Nurse and medical professionals to meet them safely.
All staff have PROACT-SCIPr training to de-escalate situations and be proactive in keeping children calm. This training also enables staff to use agreed physical interventions which is always used as a last resort to protect children and staff from physical harm.
All staff have annual Safeguarding Training and all adults in school have been DBS checked.
Specialist services
We work with the following professionals :
- Speech therapy (NHS)
- Occupational therapy (NHS)
- Physiotherapy (NHS)
- Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (NHS)
- Paediatricians (NHS)
- CAMHS
- Counselling
- Attachment workers
- Connexions (for transition planning)
- School nurse for medicals and training of staff
- Music service for instrument tuition
- Music Therapists
- Casework officers
- BHISS
- Visual Impaired Teacher
- Hearing Impaired Teacher
- Multi Sensory Impaired Teacher
- Educational Psychologists
- AMAZE
- PaCC
- Social Services
Music Therapy
There are lots of different reasons why a pupil may be referred to music therapy. It might be for social, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, learning and communication needs.
Specialist Communcation Staff
We have a member of staff who works with pupils to support their communication needs .
Samantha Edgar works on the lower site and has specialist training in Makaton, PECS, Eye Gaze, Communicate in Print and other communication software. She also works closely with speech and language and other therapists.
Accessibility
Lower Site
We have two floors, but we have a lift and all rooms on the upper floor can be accessed by wheelchair users; subject to fire evacuation regulations. We have accessible toilets and ceiling hoists in many rooms. We have a mobile hoist available too. The playgrounds can be accessed by both steps and ramps.
Upper Site
We have two floors, but we have a lift and all rooms on the upper floor can be accessed by wheelchair users; subject to fire evacuation regulations. We have 2 accessible toilets and two manual hoists.
The playground and field can be accessed by both steps and ramps.
Transition
Secondary Site
Pupils in Year 11 attend East Sussex College in Lewes for one day a week for 15 weeks to give them a taste of college life.
We have links with DVLC Link College, MET College in Brighton, Oak Grove, Plumpton College, Northbrook College in Worthing and East Sussex College in Lewes.
Casework Officers from the Local Authority attend annual reviews in the first half term of the academic year for Y11 pupils to give guidance on college placements.
