Overview We value each and every one of our children as individuals. Everything we do is designed to lead to the best possible outcomes for each student. We teach our pupils to celebrate every success and foster a genuine love of learning and participation. Our school and British values are taught explicitly but, more importantly, they are modelled by each member of staff all day, every day. This is a vibrant learning community which has its pupils at the centre of all that it does. We are one of Cambridgeshire’s Area Special Schools, based near the centre of Littleport. Pupils benefit from having access to local facilities including our local church, co-location with the sports centre and access to The “Hive” Leisure Centre in Ely. We have around 144 learners on roll from Early Years to Adulthood (our age designation is 2-19yrs but not all students stay completely within this range). The school is in spacious accommodation that includes specialist teaching rooms: Dining hall, gymnasium, food technology, science laboratory, technology room, hydrotherapy pool, drama/music, multi-sensory and soft play rooms. Visiting therapists have their own suite including offices and therapy rooms. We have two minibuses, which enable pupils to access educational visits to numerous places from the swimming pool and riding stables to work related learning placements, courses at local FE colleges and even the seaside on a sunny day. Yvonne Skillern Headteacher
Curriculum Our curriculum is divided into Blue, Purple, Yellow and Green “Pathways”. Each Pathway meets the specific needs of a group of students. Students are taught in Pathway groups to ensure that they make the best possible progress, whatever their needs. Students are also grouped according to broad age and peer group. We also have an Orange phase which is our Early Years department. Students follow our pathways curriculum towards the end of Key Stage One when developmentally appropriate. Our Blue Pathway allows the complex needs of our students to be fully met. They usually have profound and multiple learning needs in addition to physical difficulties, complex medical conditions and/or sensory impairment. Our students work on engagement and retaining skills and usually remain within this range throughout their time with us. Students on the Yellow Pathway have moderate learning difficulties and follow a more traditional school curriculum. This is a broad, balanced curriculum that is designed to foster a real love of learning. There is a range of the core National Curriculum subjects with preparation for adulthood engrained within. Most students sit exams in Key Stage 4. Green Pathway learners have severe learning difficulties and benefit from a foundational curriculum to develop awareness of their world and place within it. Students have a high level of support to manage behaviour and communication. Preparation for adulthood is engrained within our curriculum. Our Green Pathway has 10 foundational areas to form the basis of engagement and learning. Purple Pathway learners have severe learning difficulties and benefit from a semiformal curriculum including problem solving and independence skills. Students engage in some subject specific study and are developing their communication skills. Preparation for adulthood is engrained within our curriculum. We aim for all of our learners regardless of need leave us with a qualification or accreditation recognising their learning with us. More details about the content of our curriculum is available on our website. Additionally, our Assistant Head responsible for curriculum, any of our department leaders or the Headteacher will be happy to discuss this with you.
Curriculum Map
Assessment Assessment on entry—All children are assessed informally during their first few weeks with us. Progress is measured from this baseline point. Account is taken of previous assessments and information from any previous setting. Pathways—Learners in the Blue Pathway are assessed solely against EHCP outcomes. Those in the Purple and Yellow Pathways are additionally assessed against curriculum targets. Learners on the Green and Blue pathway are observed closely and their progress tracked according to 5 areas of engagement. EHCP Outcomes—At the annual review the pupil’s learning and developmental priorities are agreed, forming their EHCP “Outcomes” (targets). Parents, learners, teachers and other professionals work together deciding what are the focus areas for the coming year, and forms the basis of addressing each child’s additional needs. Homework and Marking—Learners in the Yellow Pathway will receive a little homework each week. We do not prescribe how much should be set. For classwork and homework, teachers are expected to decide for themselves. which feedback method best suits their learners. In most cases verbal feedback is preferred to written as this is more meaningful for our students. Reporting Parents Evenings – We hold two parents evenings, one each in the Autumn and Spring terms. The focus for the Autumn evening is to discuss how your child is settling in and what we plan to work on through the year . The Spring one is to feedback progress and discuss the next steps in your son or daughters learning. Annual reviews – A meeting is held annually when each child’s EHC Plan is reviewed. Parents and professionals are invited. This is part of the statutory process for children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan. Evidence for Learning—this software allows us to regularly share your child’s progress with you in real time. Once you have signed up you will receive a notification each time a piece of evidence is uploaded by the teacher.
The School Day School opens 8.45am School begins 9.00am Morning Break & Snack 10.20am—11am Lunchtime Sittings 12pm—1.15pm End of Day 3.15pm The school day starts at 9.00am and finishes at 3.15pm. The lunchtime period is from 12.00 pm to 1.15 pm, with primary and secondary lunch sittings being staggered. Morning or afternoon breaks are for 20 minutes. School Meals Our school meals are provided by Edwards and Blake and offer good quality, healthy choices that are freshly prepared each day. Pupils can choose to have a school dinner or bring a packed lunch from home each day. We can provide fridges for packed lunch storage within each classroom. If your child would like to have school dinners on some days each week this is fine. Menus are posted on our website. If your child has allergies or intolerances and requires a special diet you will need to complete the form in this link: https://orders.lunchhound.co.uk/medicaldiets/request Healthy School We appreciate that our students’ wide ranging needs mean that some of them will only eat a restricted diet. That said, please try to keep any snacks or packed lunches as healthy as possible. Allergies We are a nut free school. Please check that anything you send in is nut free. Free school meals Check if you are eligible for free school meals by visiting Cambridgeshire County Council website at: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ and searching “free school meals” School Transport Many of our children are transported between home and school in taxis or mini-buses. However, if you live within a certain distance from school or if we are not your nearest Special school, you may not eligible. Please use the County Council website (address above) for further information. Search for “school transport” and then “Pre 16 year old children with special needs” For those children that are transported to school by taxi, parents/carers should plan for alternative arrangements in the event that your child needs collecting from school early or in an emergency, for example, if they are unwell or have an accident.
Admissions Highfield Littleport is a school for pupils with complex special needs and their main need is commonly SLD or PMLD. All admissions are co-ordinated with Local Authorities; the school is not in a position to directly offer parents or carers a place for their child. Requests for placements need to be agreed first by the Local Authority Placement and Provision Panel. Once this has been agreed, paperwork requesting consideration of a placement has to be sent to us through the Statutory Assessment and Resources Team (SAT). We are able to work with different Local Authorities (LAs) even though we are based in Cambridgeshire. Places at Highfield Littleport are offered using the following criteria which is discussed at the Local Authority Placement and Provision Panel: 1. The young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan and this demonstrates a significant delay in attainment and complex learning needs. As a consequence they require significant modification to the curriculum and personalized learning approaches that cannot be achieved in a mainstream environment. Their needs are commonly SLD or PMLD. 2. Resources are available to meet the young person’s needs. 3. The young person wants to come to the school. 4. The parents agree to the school’s policies and its philosophy and ethos 5. A place is available in the school. 6. The school offers a placement which is appropriate for the pupil and is the nearest available to their home. 7. The placement has been agreed by the school and the Local Authority. 8. If the young person’s needs cannot be met within existing resources the appropriate staffing is to be agreed and arranged within the appropriate authorities before the child is admitted. 9. The school will be allowed full access to the young person’s medical, academic and social records where necessary to build up a picture of their needs. This will ensure that any placement offered will be appropriate, both for the individual and for other young people already at the school. The contact details for the SAT Team are: (Statutory Assessment and Resources Team) Telephone: 01480 372600 Email: start@cambridgeshire.gov.uk To visit the Cambridgeshire County Council Admissions information please click on the link below: Cambridgeshire County Council
School Uniform School uniform is available to purchase online via our website (https:// www.totalclothingshop.co.uk/hla). All clothing needs to be clearly labelled with the child's name. There is no objection to small ear studs but no drop earrings and loops please. In the interest of safety, damage or loss, please do not send your child into school wearing any valuable jewellery or expensive watches. Earrings may be removed for P.E. lessons for safety. Extreme hair styles such as brightly dyed hair and Mohican style haircuts are strongly discouraged. We ask that parents and carers work with us to make the focus on learning rather than appearance. The school has a uniform, which consists of a dark blue sweatshirt, white polo shirt and dark skirt or trousers. Students at KS4 have a black sweatshirt, and in the Sixth Form there is no uniform, but a dress code. Please see below for further details: Dark blue sweatshirt White blouse / polo shirt with collar Dark knee length skirt or dark trouser (elasticated or fixed waistband) Dark, closed toed shoes or trainers Hat for sun protection Coat for sessions outside In the summer, ¾ length dark, plain trousers are acceptable and shorts to the knee for pupils up to year 6. P.E. White T-shirt Dark shorts White socks Trainers or plimsolls One piece swimming costume or swimming trunks and towel Boots with heel for Horse Riding (if they access riding) Wellingtons and waterproofs for Forest School
Mobile Phones , Smartwatches and Electronic Devices Devices include, but are not limited to: ‘phones, mobile gaming equipment, tablets, smart watches’. Devices that can only be used as watches or fitness trackers can be worn during the school day, but rule 6 below will still apply. 1. Personal devices that are internet enabled must not be used for any purpose while on school premises. This includes, but is not limited to, making and receiving calls, messaging, accessing the internet, listening to music, taking photos and videos. The school Wi-Fi system is not accessible for personal device use. Devices must be switched off before entering school grounds and remain off until the child has left site. 2. Devices must be handed to the class team on arrival at school. 3. Class teams will check devices are switched off, and lock them away. 4. If a pupil breaches these rules, the device may be confiscated and will remain locked away until the end of the day. 5. Pupils who refuse to give their device to a staff member may be subject to sanctions. 6. Devices must not be taken into examinations. 7. Photos of school site, learners and staff must not be taken (including transport staff). 8. Devices with broken screens must not be brought into school, as they pose a safety risk. Emergencies If parents need to contact children urgently they should phone the school office and a message will be relayed promptly.
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