LANCASHIRE PUPIL
RE-INTEGRATION SERVICE
LeabrookShortStaySchool
SCHOOL BROCHURE
October 2008
“a positive learning experience”
LEABROOKSHORTSTAYSCHOOL
How to find us
LANCASHIRE PUPIL RE-INTEGRATION SERVICE
LEABROOKSCHOOL
Burnley Road
Rawtenstall
Rossendale
Lancashire
BB4 8HY
Tel: 01706 215977
Fax: 01706 215500
Acting Head Teacher: Mrs Helen Cunningham
Acting Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Wendy Thompson
Class Teachers: Miss Donna Mulligan
Higher Level Teaching Assistant: Mrs Antonia Phipps
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Edith Green
Mrs Jane Brown
Mrs Lynn Mitchell
Ms Donna Earnshaw
Clerical Officer: Ms Allison Leigh
School Cleaner: Mrs Christine McClure
Welfare Assistant: Mrs Susan English
Mr Dean Rush
Lunchtime Assistants: Mrs Caroline Simcock
Mrs Sharon Talbot
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Chair:Mr James Cunningham
Vice Chair: Mrs Julie Burnside
Members:Mrs Helen Cunningham
Miss Donna Mulligan
Mrs Antonia Phipps
Mrs Elaine Richards
Mrs Tracey Warren
Mrs Sue Beirne
Mr Rick Peat
Mr John Dean
SUPPORT SERVICES
Educational Psychology Service
Area Education Office
The Globe
St. James Square
Accrington
BB5 0RETel: 01254 220550
- Area Special Educational Needs Assessment Manager
Area Education Office
The Globe
St. James Square
Accrington
BB5 0RETel: 01254 220526
- Pupil Access Team
Area Education Office
The Globe Centre
Accrington
LancashireTel: 01254 220719
LPRS Senior Manager (primary): / Tracey WarrenSchool Medical Officer: / Dr S. K. Grover
School Nurse: / Ann Lee
LeabrookShortStaySchool
Mission Statement
LeabrookShortStaySchool is a happy and caring school where each child is valued as an individual. We aim to enhance each child's learning and life chances in a secure and happy nurturing environment where children and adults show respect for each other and themselves. Positive self-image and high self-esteem are paramount to the development of individual confidence, communication and discipline.
Leabrook staff work as a team. They create a stimulating and nurturing learning environment, providing high quality education for every child in the school irrespective of ability, gender or origin. They ensure basic literacy and numeracy skills are emphasised and improved.
To support the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom and the nurturing of moral and spiritual development, Leabrook management are committed to the professional development of both teaching and non-teaching staff.
All staff acknowledge that parents are the first and most influential educators and that the partnership between home and school is crucial if children are to improve and achieve their potential. Our school is a family; it is a community and it is also part of a wider society. It is a shared responsibility therefore to offer our children continuous opportunities to reflect and grow so that they can all develop into valued members of society.
September 2008
LeabrookSchoolVision Statement
Leabrook is to be a welcoming, caring and inclusive school where high standards of behaviour and learning are expected from everyone.
Leabrook children are to be constantly encouraged to improve and their successes are to be celebrated daily.
Leabrook staff are to work in partnership with parents, carers and all other childrens’ agencies to enable a successful school transfer for all our children.
September 2008
Role of the Staff
The Head Teacher has overall responsibility for the Pastoral well-being of the children and families of Leabrook. In addition all the teaching staff at Leabrook share responsibility for contributing to consistent links between school, home and outside agencies and assume such responsibilities as:
- Writing and reviewing Individual Plans and setting termly learning and behavioural targets.
- Reading and checking home-school diaries each morning and responding to any issues either in person, in writing or by telephone.
- Attending where possible reviews/ meetings regarding the child both in and out of school alongside the Head Teacher.
- Contributing to parent meetings and writing termly reports.
If it becomes necessary akey workermay be linked with a child and that worker may take responsibility with the Head Teacher for developing and maintaining relationships on a more intensive level between parents, school and outside agencies. The key worker may also play a significant role before, during and after their time at Leabrook and assume such responsibilities as:
- Liaison with themainstream school and parent/ carer to develop greater understanding of the child.
- Contribution to the Admission visit with child and parent/ carer.
- Organisation and attendance at home visits.
- Spending time with the child ensuring smooth transition and avoidance of worry or concern.
- Contribution to Individual Mapping Plans and target setting.
- Organisation and attendance at reintegration days in mainstream with the child.
THE ROLE OF PARENTS
The successful educational experience for our children is best achieved when staff and parents work together.
Communication with parents may include the following:
- Home visits
- Parents evenings
- Discussions at the Short stay school with regard to progress, assessments, future schools etc
- Letters and telephone calls
- Home-school diaries
- Parent newsletters
- Home reading booklets
- Social functions e.g. Christmas concert, Open afternoons, prize giving
Each term parents are sent copies of their child’s Individual Behaviour and Educational Plans and also their targets set.
All parents are made aware of the behavioural points system and are encouraged to reinforce good behaviour at home.
Parents are encouraged to contact and visit us at school whenever they wish. If parents feel the need to confide in staff we are only too pleased to help or to guide towards other people or agencies.
If the need arises we may seek parents’ active co-operation in responding to excessive pressures created by their child in the school.
THE CURRICULUM
Literacy
Literacy is taught for one hour each day and pupils work towards a specific outcome or piece of work at the end of each unit. This is in line with Mainstream Schools. For example a unit of work on poetry may last two or three weeks and at the end of that time all pupils will be expected to produce a poem of their own with little support.Other English activities include reading, speaking and listening activities, drama (including theatre visits) and these take place regularly throughout each week in addition to the literacy lesson.Teachers plan for literacy lessons with other curriculum areas in mind too. For example, if the pupils are learning about Victorian health care as a topic then a book about Florence Nightingale or Mary Seacole might be used to further develop their knowledge in literacy.
Reading – we encourage pupils to read each night and to have their reading record book signed by an adult or older child. Pupils can earn credits each time they read and finish a book which can be saved up and spent at Friday Celebration Assembly.
Writing – we encourage pupils to become more confident and “have a go” something they may perhaps be reluctant to do when they join us. Each half term we enjoy a “Big Write” where we all sit down together and create writing together on an exciting theme.
Handwriting – we realise that pupils from all over the area come to us at Leabrook and many schools follow a different handwriting scheme. Rather than confuse the child about in which style to write we do not teach one specific handwriting scheme, rather encourage and support pupils to write clearly and neatly.
We aim to foster a love of English and address any significant learning gaps individual children may have. We are always keen to help parents learn how to help their child with English and we regularly have open afternoons.
Numeracy
Numeracy lessons take place 4 days a week. We aim to foster a love of mathematics and address any significant learning gaps individual children may have. We are always keen to help parents learn how to help their child with mathematics and we regularly have open afternoons.
GAMES AND P.E.
PE kit should consist of shorts, shirt and indoor pumps, preferably black slip-ons.
PE kit should remain in school at all times and only be taken home for washing.
Games kit is required and should consist of outdoor footwear, shorts and t-shirt and a change of socks. A tracksuit is desirable for colder days.
All clothing and footwear should be clearly marked with the child’s name.
Jewellery including earrings must not be worn at any time.
All children attending the short stay school will be expected to take part in all physical activities unless a doctor’s note is produced.
OFF SITE ACTIVITIES
Swimming
As part of the National Curriculum, all children attending Leabrook will develop their water, swimming and life saving skills, through swimming lessons. Either the swimming instructor or one of the class teachers, under the guidance of the instructor, will teach them.
Pupils will travel to and from the swimming baths on a Rossendale Transport bus, taxi with staff or in staff cars, which will collect them from and return them to Leabrook. The class teachers will act as group leaders and there will be at least one teacher/member of staff for every six pupils.
Pupils will need trunks (not shorts) or a swimming costume, a hat for pupils with long hair, a towel, comb and a waterproof bag (e.g. a plastic carrier bag). Pupils may wear goggles if parents send a letter of request.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
The educational objectives for each activity are available on request.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Your child’s safety is of great importance to us. There is a high level of supervision from members of qualified and experienced staff. A Risk Assessment has been completed for all activities, which identifies where there is a potential risk or a hazard. First Aid Equipment will be taken on every off site activity, and a qualified First Aider will always be present. The event or activity will be cancelled if there are too few staff available, or adverse weather is forecast.
CODE OF CONDUCT
For every regular off site activity we provide, there is a Code of Conduct that we expect pupils to follow. If pupils break the Code, a risk assessment will take place and a decision will be made whether thepupil will be allowed to continue to participate in the activity.
INCLUSION
During a child’s second or third term at Leabrook school an Exit Review is held to which all those concerned with the child are invited. A decision is made to request a Statutory Assessment or to reintegrate the child to his referring school or sometimes an alternative school. A child attends his school on two days a week initially and is occasionally monitored by visits from a Teaching Assistant. The behavioural programme continues in Leabrook and at the mainstream school. If this is successful the reintegration is stepped up to three days a week and then eventually full-time. The inclusion programme can take on average from 6-8 weeks.
The Lancashire Education Inclusion Service is available to primary schools where advice, observation and possible intervention is available, to help to maintain children experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties in school. Parents are contacted and are involved as much as they wish. Home-school liaison is of paramount importance. An inclusion service teacher may work with the school and the child in an attempt to address the child’s needs in the mainstream school. If after reviewing the situation it is felt that the child would benefit from a place at the short stay school the child’s name is put forward to the termly admissions panel meeting.
Mainstream schools may seek the expert advice of Leabrook school staff who will support their schools through advice, observation and behaviour programmes. The mainstream school, prior to LPRS intervention, should seek parental consent for LPRS.
THE SCHOOL DAY
A mini-bus or taxi will collect children from home and return them to their home address. Requests for children to be picked up or dropped off elsewhere must be made in writing to the Head Teacher.
There are two mini-buses that serve each end of the RossendaleValley. Each mini-bus has an escort and they are valuable members of the short stay school team and will relay messages between home and school. Pupils from Burnley, Rochdale and Accrington may also attend the school and transport is arranged accordingly.
Children must remain seated on the mini-buses at all times wearing the seat belts provided and behave as directed by the escorts. A parent or adult carer is expected to be present when the child is collected or returned to their care. If there is no-one to receive your child, the escort is instructed to take your child to the Area Education Office at Accrington.
DINNERS
Dinner money is collected on Monday mornings and should be brought in an envelope clearly marked with the child’s name.
If your child has any food allergies, dislikes, is a vegetarian, or requires kosher or halal food please inform the Head Teacher in writing.
Please encourage your child to use cutlery correctly and to sit at a table when eating meals at home.
Milk is provided free to all children at Leabrook.
If you think your child could be entitled to Free School Meals, contact the Head Teacher for an application form.
WINTER WEATHER
If snow falls overnight and the roads are bad, there is a likelihood that the taxis will not arrive or be late. In these circumstances please contact the taxi firm and LeabrookSchool. They will be able to advise you.If snow falls during the school day, and roads become difficult because of heavy snow, the taxis will be asked to collect the children from the short stay school earlier than normal, in order that they get home safely and at a reasonable time. If you are not at home please ring the school for information and give a name and address where your child can be left.Please send your child in Wellingtons/ boots in winter weather with a change of footwear for indoors.
If it proves impossible to open the short stay school for weather reasons, you are advised to listen to Radio Lancashire, who offer their services to schools.
HEALTH
The School Nurse visits the short stay school on a regular basis. If you have any queries or problems, this service can be contacted on Rossendale 227021.
Please advise the school of any special problems your child has. This is best done in writing to the Head Teacher to avoid confusion.
Medicine is only allowed to be administered by staff if it is prescribed by a doctor and is accompanied by a letter from a parent giving permission for it to be administered and clear instructions of the times and dosages. However, the best place for a child who is ill is at home.
If your child has been prescribed Ritalin, please ensure that the school has adequate supplies to ensure the tablet is taken at the correct time. All tablets or other types of medication must be given to the escort for safekeeping in an envelope or secure container and must not be carried by pupils.
ABSENCES
It is extremely important that LeabrookSchool is informed of your child’s absence as soon as possible. Please contact us in this way:
- Send a note or a letter if the absence is due to an appointment – as soon as you are aware of the date and time.
- Telephone Leabrook and leave a message as soon as possible if the absence is unexpected - due to (illness etc).
You may inform the escort of the absence and send a letter through him/her. However you must also officiallyinform school by telephone or letter so that your child will receive an authorised absence mark.
HOLIDAYS
Your child’s education is important to us all and attendance is vital to ensure your child receives the best education possible. Please try to have family holidays during the school holiday pattern. If you wish to take your child on holiday during term time, you must write to the Head Teacher requesting permission. If permission is not granted and you take your child, the absences will be noted as unauthorised and you may be liable to prosecution by the local authority.
DAMAGE TO SCHOOL PROPERTY
Parents/carers will be asked for a contribution towards the cost of any damage caused by their child.
PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS
On the Admission visit to LeabrookSchoolparents/carers will have had the work of the short stay school explained.
Following this if there are any problems or complaints it is helpful if they can be raised with the Head Teacher as soon as possible.A complaint maybe the result of perceived unfair treatment, unwelcome or disputed decisions, delay or dissatisfaction concerning decision-making, or the quality of the service.Children, parents, guardians, or a person acting on the behalf of a child at the short stay school may make complaints.If after discussion, the complainant is still not satisfied as a result, advice is available on further procedures.
The Head Teacher of the child’s school should also be able to give advice.
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