Greenacre School

1. Greenacre School • Is a specialist school for children with severe and complex learning difficulties. • Pupils are placed at the school through Barnsley MBC Education Health and Care Plan process if parents and the local authority agree this is in the child's best interest.

2. Statement /EHC Plan • Local authorities have until 2018 to transfer all existing Statements of Special Educational Need to Education, Health and Care Plans. • If your child has a Statement or EHC plan that describes a child who needs specialist provision in order to make good progress, be well and happy - then it may be worth reading further……….

3. Questions – click on the question to find the answer • What sort of children get a place at Greenacre? • Any other sort of children? • My child hasn’t got a statement or EHC plan but is like the children at Greenacre – what do I do ? • What happens at Greenacre ?

4. Severe learning difficulties • The majority of children attending Greenacre experience severe learning difficulties - roughly speaking this means that out of 100 children of the same age , 99 would be showing more advance skills, knowledge and understanding and be able to communicate more effectively. • BACK

5. Complex Learning Difficulties • For some of the children attending Greenacre roughly 80 of the same age would be showing more advance skills, knowledge and understanding and be able to communicate more effectively. These children have other barriers to their learning such as communication and interaction difficulties ( ASD /Autism ) or complex physical and/or medical conditions. • BACK

6. Children without a statement or EHC plan • If you think your child is like the children who come to Greenacre but they haven’t got a statement or EHC plan then talk with your child's teacher or Health Visitor. • Your child may need an assessment to find out what specialist support they need so they can make good progress in school. • BACK

7. Greenacre Satellites • What are satellites? • How does my child get a place at a satellite? A picture of auto run video clip will be here showing children in transition to the satellites

8. How do I get in touch ? • Just ring 01226 287165 and ask to arrange to visit . Either the Head Teacher or one of the six Assistant Head Teachers will meet with you , show you round the school and answer all your questions. • Or email xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

9. Where is Greenacre ? • Map showing satellites. Shop and house This will run over three slides with a photograph of each place and a map showing position

10. What happens at Greenacre? • Click on the links to find out about • What happens in classrooms ? • What specialist help is there? • My child has complex health needs? • What specialist facilities are there? • How can parents get involved? • What about afterschool and holiday clubs? • Can the pupils get qualifications? • BACK

11. What happens in classrooms ? • Early Years • Classes for 5 to 8 year olds • Classes for 9 to 13 year olds • Classes for 14 – 16 year olds • Post 16 • Post 19 • BACK

12. What specialist help is there? • Teachers and Teaching Assistants are all trained to a high standard to meet the very different needs of all the children who attend. • Staff are particularly skilled in supporting children to develop • communication and language • good social interaction and conduct skills • Good basic education skills – literacy ,numeracy and ICT • Good life skills and employability skills • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

13. My child has complex health needs? • At Greenacre there is a School Health Team who provide on site support to children with a very wide range of ongoing health care needs. As well as providing highly skilled care for tube fed children and those with complex epilepsy they train and supervise the school staff so children can go out and about with their peers and still have their needs met. • In addition several Consultants and Specialist nurses hold their clinics at Greenacre –which means pupils don’t have to miss time from school and parents can have good quality time with the consultants knowing their child is happy back in class. • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

14. What specialist facilities are there? • We are very fortunate to have a very wide range of specialist facilities including • Hydro therapy pool • Therapy room ( including sensory processing ) • Music , Art , Science rooms • A large outdoor learning area including a horticulture centre, animal care area and class room in the woods . • Vocational training bases – Health and Beauty room , Training kitchen and café , Workshop space, The school also owns a Life Skills House in Barnsley Town centre and runs a shop in Barnsley town centre “ Let’s Go Potty “ • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

15. How can parents get involved? • Parents are the experts on their child. We know we need to work with parents and carers to get the best outcomes for every child. • Families can join workshops and groups looking at different issues that affect their children ( sleep for example) • Families can join in a range of social and fund raising activities, • Contact the Family Team ( Tel No XXXXXX) to find out how you can get involved in your child's education and development. • Every half term families receive a leaflet about what their child will be learning about that half term and are encouraged to support this with family time trips and experiences , watching the right TV programmes , reading together as well as supporting their children with homework. • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

16. What about afterschool clubs and holidays? • Funding permitting we arrange two or three days Fun Club activities every holiday time • There are two afterschool clubs ( Art and Sports) • After school, weekend and holiday volunteering opportunities at the shop • We do support individual pupil special interests out of school hours if at all possible - we ask parents to talk to us about ideas they have to see is we can help . • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

17. Qualifications • Our pupils start a range of Entry Level and Level 1 qualifications in Y9( aged 14 ) - including Literacy , Numeracy , ICT Science , PE and Personal Development , which they finish in Y11( aged 16 ) Every child's success is dependent on their starting point when they join the school but most young people exceed all previous expectations in terms of qualifications. • In Post 16 the students study for employability qualifications and improve the level of their qualifications in Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and personal development ( Life skills ) • We also offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award as an option and an increasing range of vocational specific qualifications. • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

18. Early Years • Our Early Years children follow the a every similar curriculum to those on main stream settings. • However continuous provision is supported by guided learning through choice and play as well as a focus on physical development and sensory processing support for those who need those interventions. • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

19. Classes for 5 to 8 year olds • Children aged from 3 – 8 are in three class groups called Freeflow . • The amount of direct teaching , as opposed to supported continuous provision increases in line with each child's needs. The majority of children by the time they reach 8 years are able to make good progress through direct teaching in groups of different sizes and at an individual level . • Some pupils follow highly individual timetables all through the school and these always include time with their class group so they do not become isolated from their social group, • Work in planned along the same lines as the National curriculum covering the same range of subjects and topics but all work is planned so that each child can make progress from their starting points. • When ever we can we use a very creative approach to learning so that the children are engaged and motivated and so that learning is fun and active . • All personalised programmes continue to ensure pupils emotional, sensory and physical needs are fully met, BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

20. Classes for 9 to 13 year olds • Children from Y5 ( 9 years olds ) to Y8 ( 13 year olds ) are taught in three class groups known as COOL. • Literacy and Numeracy are taught for approximately 40% of the time and include whole group, small groups and individual teaching • ICT , Science , PE and Music are taught as separate subjects of approximately an hour a week • COOL lesson cover history and Geography , religious education, Art and DT Modern foreign languages and Citizenship . The lessons are taught using a dramatic enquiry approach know as the ‘Mantle of the Expert’(MOE ) . MOE is achieved through a fictitious story , an imaginative process that is very adaptable so it suits all the individual learning styles of the children. • All personalised programmes continue to ensure pupils emotional, sensory and physical needs are fully met, BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

21. Classes for 14 – 16 year olds • In Y9 - when the children are 14 years old they start their qualifications programme – All children continue to learn through literacy numeracy ICT Science , PE and a Life skills programme that covers RE Citizenship and Humanities as well as community based skills home management skills and personal care skills. This programme is called Lifeskills • The pupils also have two options- an ART and Vocational. The children have taster sessions of the option available during their transition from Y8 to Y9 so that they can choose from knowledge. • All personalised programmes continue to ensure pupils emotional, sensory and physical needs are fully met, • All pupils have the equivalent of two weeks work experience over the Lifekskills programme • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

22. Post 16 • If young people choose to stay on to Greenacre College or joining the college from another setting they follow a highly personalised programme which includes • Core skills of literacy , numeracy and ICT , • ‘Free time’ which encourages independence and social skills and time to review their progress against targets and what they need to do to improve further. • Community based programme –including use of the Life Skills house, money management skills and personal organisation • Vocational options - these range from Media, Motor vehicle maintenance , retail and office skills ( this includes working in the town centre shop ), Health and Beauty , Catering , Horticulture and Animal Care • Sports and Arts options – these range from Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Football , Biking, Photography , Drama ,Art, music and swimming . • All post 16 students benefit from two weeks work experience and is desired and possible supported internships with the schools partners • The post 16 students also have the opportunity to join two residential weeks either at Centre Parcs or Bendrigg ( and outdoor pursuits centre) • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

23. Post 19 • We are developing a range of Post 19 options including a franchise arrangement with Barnsley College for students who just need a little bit longer to make the transition to Barnsley College productive and packages of continuing development provision through a newly formed Community Interest Company – ‘Opening Doors Greenacre’. Students in both these packages get the benefit of the use of the school facilities , house and shop but are not based at the school. • For more information about these options and other developments contact Sarah McDonald smcdonald@barnsley.org • BACK An auto run video clip will or photo will show here as well as a sound clip reading out the words

24. Greenacre satellites • Opening in September 2014, initially with one year funding Greenacre will be offering 30 more places for children who meet the criteria of admission to Greenacre in satellite bases. • Known as ‘Kexborough Campus’ there will be 20 children across KS1 and KS2 in two classes at Kexborough Primary school. Taught by Greenacre staff and on Greenacre roll but with the best of both world opportunities to share lesson with Kexborough pupils as well as have small group ,individual teaching when needed. • At Darton College, ‘Darton Campus’ will provide a similar opportunity for 10 KS3 pupils. • We are seeking to ensure funding for this provision will continue into the future ,

25. How does my child get a place at a satellite? • Children are offered places at the satellite if they have been identified as requiring a specialist placement at Greenacre. • If you would like more information please email shayter@barnsley.org or swainwright@barnsley.org or telephone 01226 287165 .

26. Other information • Please check our website www.greenacre-school.co.uk for information about • School Uniform • School Meals • Understanding Bullying and Behaviour Policies • Use of Pupil premium grant • School Day • And all other policies that guide the school’s work.