Child In Classroom

Learning at Hope House School 

When joining Hope House School each pupil will have access to a mentor who will work to develop a rapport and relationship with them. The mentor spends each day with the pupil, introducing them via their visual timetable to the planned and structured activities. The mentor accompanies the pupil to teaching and therapy sessions and works as a supporting adult within these sessions. 

Each pupil will have access to our multi-disciplinary team of experienced teachers, therapists and assistants. A balanced timetable will be planned to provide appropriate levels of input for the individual pupil from our teaching staff, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and creative expressive therapist. We have access to physiotherapy, educational psychology and clinical psychology as required. A more detailed explanation of our therapies and teaching methods can be found in our ‘Teaching Strategies and Therapies booklet.’ Please contact the school for a copy.

Our individualised approach ensures the multi-disciplinary team works with the pupil on their strengths, interests, encouraging a motivated starting point for learning. Once the pupil is able to engage in their learning, they can move on to work on more traditional National Curriculum areas and transition or continuation with their previous learning schemes will be developed wherever possible.  National Curriculum targets of basic numeracy and literacy can be worked towards within the more multi-sensory and experiential environment that Hope House School offers. 

Hope House School also follows the National Strategy for Primary and Secondary Schools with regard to the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL). The principles of SEAL are applied on a highly individualised basis, working towards pupils becoming more self aware, more socially aware, more able to work with others and most importantly to begin to be able to understand their own emotions and reactions within this supportive environment. 

Pupils can access a range of specialised approaches integrated by the therapists and teaching staff to accommodate their individual learning needs and utilising the many facilities on site. Lessons will be planned according to the pupil's Individual Education Plan, which will be developed after consultation with the specialists involved in the child's case and their parents. Pupils will, for the most part, be taught on a one-to-one basis, joining other staff/pupils in small numbers for the purpose of developing social skills and to aid the management of change as and when it needs to take place.

There are daily briefing sessions during which teaching staff and other members of staff share information and support, pass on parental comments and celebrate the progress of their pupils. There will be bi-annual written reports on each pupil's achievements to supplement regular parent evenings and workshops.

Hope House School has an open-door policy for parents and carers who are welcome to visit or contact us. Building partnerships with parents and carers is an important part of each child's education. We will develop individual tutoring and care plans with each child, their parents/carers and the appropriate external agencies. Maintaining a consistent approach at school and home will ensure the greatest success for your child.

RE-INTEGRATION INTO MAINSTREAM EDUCATION

It is our goal that as many children as possible will make the transition back into mainstream education once it is agreed they are ready. Those children who are not able to re-integrate within this timescale will continue at Hope House with the addition of national curriculum subjects appropriate to their ability.