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Welcome to Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children

Information Pack for applicants interested in working at Frank Barnes School

Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children · Jubilee Waterside Centre ·

105 Camley Street · London N1C 4PF

E:

T: 020 7391 7040

F: 020 7391 7048

www.fbarnes.camden.sch.uk

Contents

Welcome from the Head...... Page 3

Key Features of the School...... Page 4

Support and Development...... Page 6

Living and Working in the London Borough of Camden...... Page 7

Transport Links...... Page 8

Dear Applicant

Thank you for expressing an interest in Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children. We are a very successful school, recognised by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’, with a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence for deaf education.

Frank Barnes is one of the only schools in London, and indeed England, with a bilingual philosophy – treating the learning of English and British Sign Language (BSL) with equal importance.

As a nationally recognised centre of excellence, we also offer a broad range of services to parents and the wider community – both deaf and hearing. More information about this can be found on our website.

From the 2013/2014 school year, we will benefit from a multi-million pound, specifically designed new building, which will allow our pupils to flourish in a state-of-the-art learning environment and inspire them to succeed. Combined with our innovative curriculum, the new facilities will support us in providing a centre of excellence for deaf education.

Frank Barnes School is an inspirational place to work. We are a hard working team of dedicated professionals ensuring that each of our pupils achieve to the best of their ability and has every chance to succeed.

At Frank Barnes, we can offer you an unrivalled experience, training and career guidance and progression. The school has outstanding teaching facilities, excellent team spirit and the opportunity to learn and grow within your chosen field.

Hopefully the enclosed information and access to our website will provide you with enough information to make up your mind about applying, but the only true way to experience life in our school is to visit us – so I hope you will take the opportunity to see for yourself the high quality education we offer.

We look forward to hearing from you.


Karen Simpson

Headteacher

Key Features of Frank Barnes

Frank Barnes has a national and international reputation as a centre of excellence for educating deaf children and is one of the only schools in London and indeed England with a sign bilingual philosophy. Deaf children aged 2-11 from many different backgrounds come to our school from across London.

A centre of excellence for deaf education

The school is in involved in national policy developments concerning Deaf education and has established international links. We are also very proud to have achieved Investors in People, Healthy Schools status and to have been shortlisted for an Education Business Award for the outstanding quality of education and care we provide. The school was selected to appear in the Ofsted publication of ‘’Twelve Outstanding Special Schools – Excelling through Inclusion.’’ We host an annual conference that focuses on the latest developments in Deaf education.

We also provide a broad range of services and courses to parents and the wider Deaf and hearing communities. For more information on these please visit the Training and Courses and Resources sections of our website:

www.fbarnes.camden.sch.uk.

BSL and English

We are committed to providing a high quality, child-centred education which recognises the status, role and contribution of both British Sign Language (BSL) and English. We value these languages equally and want our children to be confident in both. We have high expectations of our children and believe that deafness, in itself, is not a barrier or obstacle to learning and that every child can learn, achieve and reach their full potential. As a centre of excellence for deaf education, we also provide a broad range of services and courses to parents and the wider Deaf and hearing communities.

Every deaf child at Frank Barnes has opportunities to study and use BSL, as we believe it is of benefit to all deaf children. As well as supporting their language acquisition, BSL allows all deaf children and adults to communicate easily with each other and forms part of their Deaf identity. We want our children to be bilingual so that they are comfortable in both the Deaf and hearing communities.

Specialised and experienced staff

We have a strong and diverse team of deaf and hearing professionals who work closely together to meet our children’s needs. These include Teachers of the Deaf, a Leader of Bi-lingual Practice, a Senior Early Years Educator, Teaching Assistants, Sign Language Interpreters, BSL Tutors, an Educational Psychologist and, Speech and Language Therapists.

Curriculum

Throughout the school we provide a balanced curriculum that is relevant to children’s individual needs and abilities. In addition to the National Curriculum, we provide children with individualised speech and language therapy programmes. A Deaf Studies curriculum supports the children to develop their deaf identity and their pride in being a member of the deaf community. Furthermore, rigorous and continuous assessment and Individualised Learning Plans ensure all our children’s needs are identified and developed.

Excellent facilities

We moved to our current site at the Jubilee Waterside Centre in September 2010 and are privileged to have outstanding facilities. Our learning environment has been carefully considered and specially designed to meet the specific needs of our children. Our facilities include:

·  A well equipped Foundation Stage area with its own outside play garden

·  A bright and welcoming hall for indoor PE, gym, dance and/or drama

·  Designated classroom space with access to a well-stocked library for each year group

·  A separate lunch hall and a playground area, with hard surface for lunchtime football and netball clubs, complete with a bright mural, a superb climbing frame and a shaded grassed area

·  Interactive whiteboards in class areas and the hall.

The Future

We are delighted that London Borough of Camden has guaranteed funding for a ten year strategy for deaf children. This includes the construction of state-of-the-art facilities at the new King’s Cross Development which will be ready for the 2013/2014 school year.

The school has the equivalent of six full time teachers with related support staff. Speech and language therapists are based at the school. Occupational and physiotherapists can provide support for individual children if required. The school also has close links with the Sign Bilingual Consortium, BATOD and other supporting professionals in deaf education.

At Frank Barnes we believe it is important for parents and carers to be fully involved in their children’s education and in the life of the school. We ensure that parents are kept informed through a home-school book, telephone and email contact, regular school newsletters, the school website and, most importantly of all, an open door policy.


Support and Development

Frank Barnes School has achieved Investors in People and is committed to the professional development of every staff member. Frank Barnes School actively supports Teacher of the Deaf Training. Release time for teaching staff enables them to manage their teaching and curriculum responsibilities and lead developments across the school. All staff are encouraged to develop their signing skills and achieve NVQ BSL Level III. Support staff have opportunities to undertake developmental training, e.g. HLTA, diplomas, degrees, etc.

Induction and Career Development

·  A mentor programme

·  1-day induction programme

·  Strong programme of in-service training

·  Professional development opportunities for all staff

The staff at Frank Barnes are very supportive towards each other and understand the strength that working in partnership brings. In addition to this, benefits include the following:

·  Access to PC for all teaching staff

·  Social staff area and work area for staff

·  Reduced cost for council managed fitness centres and swimming pools

·  Regular staff social events and activities

Childcare

The London Borough of Camden’s Children’s Information Service offers a comprehensive service to help meet childcare needs. The service can be contacted on 020 7974 1679, or send an email through Camden Council’s website at www.camden.gov.uk. The service can provide information on childminders, playgroups, nurseries, and out of school schemes. Alternatively try www.childcarelink.gov.uk.

Housing

The teacher recruitment and retention team at the London Borough of Camden operates the Camden Teacher Job Match service.


Living and Working in the London Borough of Camden

History

In April 1965, the London Borough of Camden replaced the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Hampstead, Holborn and St Pancras. It was named after the first Earl Camden, Charles Pratt, who started the development of Camden Town in 1971. Camden Town began life as little more than a handful of buildings beside a main road. Camden Town’s expansion as a major centre came with the opening of the Regent’s Canal to traffic in 1820. Improvements to transport provided employment for the local population, which, by the end of the 19th century, had grown significantly. Many streets were changed when the new housing developments and schemes were introduced in the 1960’s. The conversion of Camden Lock’s wharves and warehouses on the Regent’s Canal to craft markets in the 1970’s ensured Camden Town’s future as one of London’s top tourist attractions.

Transport links are excellent. The major stations of King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston are all in the borough with direct links to other mainline stations and the rest of the UK. There are extensive bus and tube networks as well as a section of the Silverlink service that traverses London from east to west. All airports are within easy reach either by rail, bus or underground networks.

Sports facilities

Sports lovers are well served in the borough: from coaching sessions, leisure centre facilities and sports pitches through local sports clubs, teams and sports events there is something for everyone. Whatever your sports or fitness needs you’ll find what you want at one of the council-run sports centres’ or private clubs.

Parks and open spaces

The borough manages around 70 parks and open spaces, many of which are important historically, such as former burial grounds, manors, private gardens and London squares. Other parks range from neighbourhood playgrounds to allotments and nature reserves. Green fingered residents can test their skills in the Camden in Bloom competition which is now in its tenth year; schools and nurseries are also now eligible to enter.

Entertainment

The borough has an abundance of restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets. For those who like to create their own good food, there are many farmers’ markets in the area as well as eight local markets run by the council. There are also privately run markets, the most famous of which is at Camden Lock.

For further information on what the London Borough of Camden can offer, visit www.camden.gov.uk


Transport Links

Frank Barnes School is a special school situated in the Jubilee Waterside Centre, in Reapers Close, which is accessed from Crofters Way on Camley Street. Its main entrance is onto Reapers Close, where there is one gate for the entrance and exit of vehicles, as well as a separate pedestrian entrance. The main entrance is to the front of the Jubilee Waterside and is accessed by stairs or external lift. There is a second pedestrian entrance to the side of the Jubilee Waterside Centre, but this is only opened for community use, deliveries and disabled people entering or leaving the school, if the internal lift is out of use.

Overground and underground stations

The Jubilee Waterside Centre is on Regents Canal and the site is within walking distance of a number of public transport sites:

·  Kings Cross/St Pancras station which is on the Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Northern lines and is16 minutes walk along Camley Street.

·  Local and national rail links and bus services

·  Camden Road overland station is 8 minutes walk either via the canal footpath or Camley Street and Agar Grove and is on the north London line which runs from Richmond to Stratford and stops at Willesden Junction which has connections to Euston and Watford

·  Mornington Crescent underground station on the Northern Line is 15 minutes walk via Crowndale Road and St Pancras Way

·  Camden Town station on the Northern Line is 13 minutes walk via Camden Road and canal footpath or Agar Grove/Camley Street.

Buses/Shuttle Bus:

The following bus routes are close to the school: 214, 274, 46, 29, 253, 214, 274, 46 29,

There is a shuttle bus service to and from the school from outside St Pancras station (on Brill Place opposite Midland Road just next to the traffic lights). Please check the school website for the timetable and further information.

School Minibus:

The school has a 17 seater minibus with a tail lift to accommodate pupils with physical needs in wheelchairs provided by the Variety Sunshine Coach Charity.

Parking:

Parking on Reapers Close, Crofters Way and Camley Street is restricted with Reapers Close and Crofters Way being resident permit holders only, and Camley Street having a mixture of pay and display and resident permit holders only bays and single yellow lines for loading and unloading. Camley Street provides access to a number of business and residential properties.

Cycle Spaces:

Secure, sheltered cycle parking is also provided for us by staff and visitors. There are 10 cycle stands located at the lower level of the sire and are accessed via either the vehicle or pedestrian entry gate through the main vehicle area and existing vehicle ramp.