Description
They set high expectations for pupils, encouraging each child to achieve academically, develop independence and to contribute positively in their communities. This requires a child centred and flexible approach so that individual needs are identified and supported. Pupils’ progress is carefully assessed and monitored from the learning journals used with youngest children through to tracking of KS4 students’ achievement of their GCSE target grades.
Heathlands is now a single site school for deaf pupils of all ages offering both day and weekly boarding provision. The school has two departments: Lower (including nursery – year 6), Upper (including year 7-11) with some flexibility between the departments ensuring that a curriculum and educational experience suited to each age range is offered. Running through both departments is an emphasis on Communication, Language and Literacy; the foundation stones for the effective education of deaf children. The Teachers of the Deaf have specialist training in language development and incorporate this in lesson delivery whatever the subject. Specialist Speech and Language therapists will undertake assessments of pupils’ needs then design and deliver tailor made intervention programmes. This, combined with the attention to children’s audiological needs and the expertise in British Sign Language, is brought together in a Total Communication approach
Facilities
Lower School
At Heathlands our pupils are at the heart of all they do. They aim to equip our young people Heathlands Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides a happy and welcoming atmosphere, in a secure and stimulating environment. Children feel safe and well cared for by the staff team of a qualified and experienced Teacher of the Deaf and specialist Learning Support Assistants.A total communication approach is used combining sign language and spoken language to ensure all the deaf pupils are developing to their full potential. There is close collaboration with Speech and Language Therapists the school’s Audiology Assistant. Within this environment the children grow in confidence, develop their language and communication skills, make personal, social and academic progress whilst working towards becoming independent learners.
Upper School
The strategic intent of curriculum provision is to foster the educational development for students at Heathlands to the highest level of attainment possible and to ensure and enable access to the same National Curriculum as their mainstream peers.Intake at Heathlands will vary year-on-year with year groups at vastly different starting points and also significant variation in term individual language development. There is intent to ensure language is central to all areas of the curriculum and continuously developed in all subject areas. A child-centred curriculum, tailored to meet the needs of each student is central in curriculum planning. The curriculum can frequently require significant adaptation from one year to the next. Notwithstanding the range of individual presenting needs, the unswerving intent is to provide for each student a broad and engaging curriculum covered in appropriate depth to enable each individual to master the key knowledge and skills essential in each subject and maximise their potential to achieve the highest levels of nationally-recognised certification at the end of KS4.
Features
- Ofsted Rating:
outstanding
Things to note
Speech & Language Therapy
Heathlands School has a team of Speech and Language therapists and assistants supporting children to achieve their full potential in speech, language and communication. When children join Heathlands, their communication needs are assessed through formal or informal procedures and/or ongoing evaluation to ensure each aspect of communication is observedIt is important for Deaf children to develop the skills to communicate in wider society outside school and home. The Speech and Language therapy team support functional communication through inclusion and trips to a number of settings where pupils can develop their skills and confidence in communicating with hearing peers and adults
Clubs
Heathlands pupils enjoy a wide range of clubs and activities. Some will change on a termly basis or be related to season events. They are also happy to hear from parents if they have a skill to offer. They also encourage the pupils to propose and get involved in the planning of their own activities in school or by participating in events in their local communities.
Extra Curricular
Please check the school website link for details.
0.05 miles
