To Alderwasley Hall School 4
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Prospectus 2016/2017 alderwasleyhall.com Our Vision Statement ‘We all work together to create a happy and caring environment which enables our students to learn and communicate with confidence and grow as valued members of society.’ 2 Contents Welcome to Alderwasley Hall School 4 Education and Enrichment Activities 6 Residential Provision 8 Extended Curriculum for Residential Students 9 Therapies and Specialist Support 10 Supporting Young People’s Behaviour 12 Meet the Team 13 Referrals and Assessment 16 Staff Training and Qualifications 17 How to Find Us 18 The Local Community 20 Term Dates 21 Policies 22 General Information 23 3 Welcome to Alderwasley Hall School I am delighted to welcome you to Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre. We are exceptionally proud of every aspect of our school and homes, from the academic and social achievement of our learners, to the outstanding specialist intervention and support we can provide for young people in our classes and our care. The school is set in rural Derbyshire with close transportation links to the diverse cities of Derby and Sheffield and we specialise in working with young people with severe and complex Speech, Language and Communication Needs incorporating High Functioning Autism. We have over 25 years of nationally recognised skill and experience within the educational field of ASD and Communication and our team of Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists is one of the largest in any school across the country. This, alongside our Mental Health Team provides us with an unrivalled level of expertise. Alderwasley Parents Together and the Our underpinning ethos of “Unconditional Positive Regard School Trust and fulfilment in life” guides all that we do and our outstanding outcomes, we believe, speak for themselves. Alderwasley Parents Together is the school’s parent support We provide each young person with academic and social group. The group meet six times a year to network and to challenge through highly personalised, creatively designed share experiences. programmes and curricula along with an extremely strong, well-established pastoral system of support, care and The School Trust supports students to take part in guidance. I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher of extra-curricular activities which they may not otherwise be our school, a school which I believe, gives young people able to access due to affordability. This may include taking an exceptional chance to fulfil their academic, social and part in peripatetic music lessons or the purchase of clothing independence potential. for special events such as the school prom. The School Trust runs fundraising events throughout the school year, Whilst I know that you will find the information in our including the school’s Summer Fair which takes place in prospectus interesting and informative, nothing gives you a July. better insight into the true ethos of a school and home than seeing it for yourself. We always welcome visitors to our We encourage all parents to get as involved as possible in school and I strongly recommend that you take time to see both groups. the school and homes. Sara Forsyth Headteacher “ The school makes good provision for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students. Within a relatively short time, students develop self-confidence and begin to understand how to relate to others. Students in the post 16 provision often demonstrate mature, adult relationships and the ability to take responsibility for shaping their future lives.” Ofsted Education 2014 4 Our Aims Our Values Our aim is to deliver the best educational provision for We promote the following values in our students: young people with Specific Language Disorders, Aspergers Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorders’ Respect for others, by treating each all of whom experience complex speech, language and other well and fairly and sharing unconditional communication needs. positive regard The aim of all aspects of the curriculum is to prepare Tolerance of others, by allowing people to be students for adult life by developing the skills, different and accepting those differences knowledge and understanding which they need in order to choose, set and achieve their personal goals Curiosity about the world around us, by asking and live their lives to their full potential. Those goals questions about the world may include academic aspirations, vocational or career plans, hopes for independent living or choices of rewarding leisure and recreational pursuits, all Independence at an appropriate level, by taking underpinned by the ability to form strong social and risks and trying new experiences personal relationships. Learning as much as we are able, by trying new To summarise, Alderwasley Hall School’s aims are: things and working hard To fulfil social and communication potential We are able to offer a range of flexible placement To fulfil academic potential options, including: To provide a memorable and enjoyable experience 52 week residential – full residential care; our To fulfil independence potential sites are registered as children's homes 38 week residential – part-time residential care We strive to achieve these aims by addressing the midweek individual needs of every student through the delivery 39 to 51 week residential – where there is a need of Speech and Language Therapy programmes, to provide additional residential support to meet Occupational Therapy programmes and educational the needs of the young person and their family programmes, underpinned by high quality care Day placements provision and all driven by an individual student’s Statement of Special Educational Needs. “The school’s main aim is to ensure that everyone ‘works together to create a happy and caring environment which enables students to learn and communicate with confidence and grow as valued members of society’. It intends to achieve this ‘through high quality education and therapeutic interventions in a caring and supportive environment.” “The school’s arrangements for the development of students’ life skills, working towards independence in adult life, are exemplary. Excellent arrangements for students’ transition to further education or employment are skilfully managed with an emphasis on the uniqueness of the individual.” Ofsted Education 2014 5 The school has links with the surrounding community, which enhance the activities and Education opportunities students experience while at the school. These include: All young people will be provided with a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum which takes into Dethick, Lea and Holloway Historical Society account the needs identified on their Statement of Wirksworth Heritage Centre Special Educational Needs/EHC plan (where Local fire station applicable). The timetables and study pathways are Matlock Pottery Workshop individually tailored to need, ability and aspirations. Carsington Water Reservoir Each group of students follows a curriculum which is Eco and Stone Centre underpinned by learning, which gives them the Local primary and secondary schools and opportunity to develop the skills they will need in adult colleges life. This means that whatever the ability of the student, our plans and targets for that young person Derby Moor School is a Derby City school, rated as will progressively develop the skills necessary to Outstanding by OFSTED and with whom we have function competently and confidently in adult life. developed formal links. We have ever increasing collaborative working practises in a number of The Primary Centre offers a highly staffed education subject areas which currently include, base for young people aged from 5 to 11 years of age. Modern Foreign Languages, PSHE Art, Dance and These students are taught by a very small number of Humanities. Future planning will increase joint familiar staff and follow a primary curriculum. working and provide increased opportunities for learning and wider experiences for the staff At Key Stage 3, young people gradually begin to and students who attend Alderwasley Hall and widen their sphere of familiar staff and access a greater Derby Moor. range of specialist resource bases. They are taught the skills necessary to progress on to Key Stage 4 through Students also make use of the local leisure centre, the access to the curriculum at an appropriate level. nearby High Peak Trail and Cromford Mill and Canal. When they reach Key Stage 4 young people will follow individualised timetables, incorporating a Some of our students may develop specific interests combination of Entry Level and GCSE core subjects or skills, or require particular academic achievements (taught in academically grouped classes) along with a to enable their plans for the future. Others may have range of other subjects which are taught in tutor already achieved a particular qualification and want groups. to progress to the next level of study, or study at a level which we cannot support at the school site. In Our Sixth Form Centre offers a highly individualised these cases we identify a suitable distance learning educational, therapeutic and residential programme course (e.g. the comprehensive range of IGCSEs, aimed at addressing the transition from Key Stage 4 to online distance learning) or approach the local adulthood. For further details please request a copy of secondary schools, with which we have strong links. the Alderwasley Hall Sixth Form Centre We are happy to supplement our academic Prospectus from the school office. curriculum,