St Piers School and College - Early years and education

St Piers School and St Piers College provide outstanding, highly specialised education for children and young people with neurological conditions and learning disabilities.

Set in stunning grounds, St Piers School and College offer the all latest facilities to help students grow in confidence and learn independence.

Highly skilled and dedicated staff excel at teaching students with a range of conditions including:

• Autism
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Acquired brain injury
• Behaviour difficulties
• Epilepsy
• Moderate learning difficulties
• Non weight bearing needs
• Profound multiple learning difficulties

education@youngepilepsy.org.uk

https://www.stpiers.org.uk/

A new, purpose built, state of the art school was completed in 2016. 

24 hours 365 days

These are individual to each young person and are determind following a comprehensive assesment by our on site multi-disciplinary team

Initial contact should be made to the Education Liaison Service team, 01342 831348 who will manage the referral process for anyone wishing to use our education, health and care services. The team gather information so we can understand your young person’s needs. Our multidisciplinary team assess the documentation following which an informal meeting will be arranged.

When a residential placement is sought, we invite the young person for a two day assessment which involves attending the school or college and spending an overnight stay  on one of our residential houses. They would join in the evening activities with other students.

When a day place is sought, the young person is invited to attend a two day assessment. This involves attending lessons and undertaking activities with students of a similar ability. The young person is also assessed by our therapy and medical teams. This allows us to fully understand all their needs and how we could support and develop the young person. Following the assessment, the family will be advised of the decision. If appropriate, a funding request would then be made to the local authority.

• Mental health conditions
• Learning difficulty e.g. Dyslexia
• Learning disability
• Communication Impairment including Speech and Language Delay
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder including Social communication difficulty
• Long term conditions Physical impairment
• Challenging behaviour
• Visual impairment
• Social, emotional & mental health difficulty
• Aspergers
• Sensory and/or physical need

How does the setting/school/college know if children/youngpeople need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

National charity Young Epilepsy operates St Piers School and St Piers College. Both the school and college provide specialist education provision.

Students come from across the UK. They can attend on a day basis or 38/39 week and 52 week residential basis or as day students. Short term placements are also available. We cater for children and young people between the ages of five and 25.

Students that use our services have a range of conditions including:

• Autism
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Behaviour Difficulties
• Down’s Syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Profound and multiple learning difficulties
• and a vast array of other associated medical and neurological conditions.

Each child/young person is fully assessed prior to admission by our experienced and highly trained multi disciplinary team to ensure we can meet their needs and that all needs are catered for. Each member of the team will have detailed knowledge of each student. The team works closely with parents and with each other.

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person? How will the teaching be adapted for my child with SEND?

Support is provided to students by our multi-disciplinary team. The team delivers a holistic service that meets the young person’s education, care and health needs. Our medical and therapy staff are based on the campus so we can be very flexible in the care we provide and the young person’s needs can be met immediately.

With a high ratio of staff to pupils, sometimes 2:1 or 1:2 but more often 1:1 and classes between 5 and 8 students, all staff have comprehensive training, focussing on the specialist knowledge necessary to support the complex needs of our students.

St Piers School and St Piers College have a combined Education Governing Body. It features parents/carers, educational staff, residential care staff plus representatives from the business world to ensure that future employability of students is always given due consideration.

St Piers School and St Piers College constantly monitor students’ progress to ensure they are progressing and also to make sure the provision offered meets their needs.

The Annual Review process reviews the Statement and objectives and provides information on progress made – assessment is carefully recorded and analysed. Governors monitor progress through KPIs and reports on progress being made.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child's/young persons needs?

Each student’s needs and abilities are assessed by our multi-disciplinary team. We create an individually tailored programme of education and provide a ‘waking day’ curriculum wherein learning opportunities are planned both during the day and in the residential setting. Every student has targets set for each area of the curriculum which are constantly monitored, assessed and reviewed.

In the College an individualised curriculum is set for each student which combines, core skills, employability skills as well as vocational and life skills. All students have periods of work experience. These are planned carefully to take into account the interests and aspirations of students as well as their assessed aptitudes and abilities. Progress in achieving targets is monitored carefully throughout the year assessment carefully recorded analysed and reported on at regular intervals

In the School teaching staff and care staff set the Individual Education Plans (IEP) which are monitored closely by the Head of School. These are reviewed regularly and as and when targets are achieved during the year. A meeting between therapy, care and the School or College is held at the beginning of each year to discuss and set the IEP and parents and local authorities are also fully consulted.

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me support my child's/young person's learning?

The progress of all students is monitored closely, both against personal targets and national data collected from other specialist schools and colleges. We have a formal system of reviews in place to ensure the young person is progressing and developing in line with their individual learning plan and learning targets set. We always immediately revise the plan if the student’s needs change to ensure that the targets are realistic but challenging.

Parents/carers are always consulted and made aware of progress, problems that might emerge and of how they can help their child to continue to learn. Throughout the year there is a programme of meetings about students, their plans and progress to which parents are invited. The Annual Review meeting is the main, formal meeting to review progress. Parents, carers and Local Authority officials are invited to these meetings. On an ongoing basis, House Managers and Teachers maintain close contact with parents throughout.

Regular reports on progress are produced and shared with parents and carers.

Education doesn’t stop at the end of the school or college day and so we welcome engagement, input and support from parents/carers and plan activities which will extend learning into all settings.

All students in the school have a ‘day book’ that outlines what progress has been made during the day and what home learning is required. Wherever appropriate, parents/carers would be encouraged to oversee and get involved with home learning.

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall wellbeing?

Considerable support is available for the young person. Our education specialists will do all they can to help the young person reach their full potential. In addition to this our therapy, health and medical specialists will meet any medical or health needs the young person has while our care staff will provide pastoral care. This includes providing a listening ear and emotional support.

Young Epilepsy has a world-class medical centre providing 24 hour medical care. The organisation is unique because our therapists and multi-disciplinary team are based on site so we can bring support and care to the child instead of having to take them off site. A local GP visits twice weekly.

There are also student councils in both St Piers School and St Piers College ensuring the student voices are heard and action is taken accordingly. This process is carefully monitored by Governors to ensure that students are fully involved in decision making.

Young Epilepsy has an excellent Safeguarding Team and processes for ensuring that the safety of all students is maintained as an absolute priority. There are excellent reporting and monitoring systems that are rigorously applied.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school/setting/college?

Our multi-disciplinary team delivers a holistic service. Our medical and therapy staff are based on the campus so we can be very flexible in the care packages we provide and the young person’s needs can be met immediately if necessary. Young Epilepsy provides a broad range of specialist care services including;

• World renowned consultant neurologists,
• child and adolescent psychologists,
• medical registrars,
• research fellows (joint with Great Ormond Street Hospital),
• epilepsy nurse specialists and other nursing staff,
• psychologists,
• physiotherapists,
• occupational therapists
• speech and language therapists

What training are the staff supporting the children and young people with SEND have had or are having?

All staff who have contact with children and young people undergo a robust induction programme during their first six months in post. This is followed by further mandatory, regulatory and person centred training throughout their time with Young Epilepsy. These are delivered by subject matter experts from our own staff as well as our nursing and therapy teams. This ensure we are sharing expertise across the organisation and that all training is relevant to the specific requirements of our students.

Person centred training courses include:

• Understanding Epilepsy and Autism
• Intensive Interaction
• Signalong and Total Communication
• Epilepsy First Aid
• Safe Support

In addition to this, staff who work within the residential houses are funded to complete their Common Induction Standards and the Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care. House Managers are required to undertake the Level 5 Qualification.

All teachers and lecturers are qualified to at least National Standards. In addition to this training and updating is constantly being addressed to make sure that the latest teaching methods are introduced and used to the benefit of our students

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

As special educational needs establishments St Piers School and St Piers College have considerable expertise in arranging activities for students out of the classroom. A range of activities are available depending on the young person’s personal interests and abilities. These include swimming, horse riding, visiting National Trust Sites, outings to Theatres, Cinemas and museums etc. and visiting activity centres.

On site we have a range of unique facilities including a Hydrotherapy Pool, a Horticulture Training Centre and fully working Farm with a range of farm animals

We offer a broad range of afterhours activities including a broad range of sporting activities and clubs as well as social events.

There is a strong emphasis on employability at Young Epilepsy. As such there is a broad and growing range of work placement opportunities for all students in the College and in the School Sixth Form.

All students are fully supported in all activities in or off the campus. All students can access all activities held on and off site, with specially adapted equipment being used when necessary and additional support workers when required.

Parents and carers are fully informed with regard to all trips and other activities.

How accessible is the setting/school/college environment?

Young Epilepsy offers day and residential care to individuals with a variety of complex needs and disabilities. Areas used by students of St Piers School and St Piers College have full disabled access with wheelchair ramps, electric doors, hoists and any other equipment they may require. We are continually upgrading our facilities to ensure we offer full disabled access.

Students also have access to a wide range of specialist equipment including Speak and Spell, touch screen technology, iPads, iPods, tablet computers and fully equipped sensory rooms to meet all access needs and staff are trained in their use.

We have a gym, a low ropes course and a vast array of specialist sports and fitness equipment plus a hydrotherapy suite and boating lake. Disabled lavatories and changing facilities are available across our site.

Both St Piers School and St Piers College have specialist provision for students that are on the autistic spectrum. This includes lecturers who are specially trained to understand and teach students with the condition.

We have procedures in place for communicating with parents and carers whose first language is not English. If a member of staff fluent in the required language is not available we can access a translator service.

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

We are aware that change can be challenging for students and their families and transition is therefore carefully managed at all times. This includes ensuring the student has made a series of visits to the new setting. Staff may transfer between settings with the student or the receiving staff will have had opportunities to get to know them in their current setting and receive training to support their individual needs. Our experience demonstrates that with the right support and intervention the following changes can be managed successfully:

• Students new to the School and College
• Students changing classes for the new academic year
• Students undertaking key stage progressions
• Students leaving the School or College
• Student accessing external activities and work placements etc.
• Students attending specialist provision at local colleges
• Students new to residential care
• Students progressing from St Piers School to St Piers College.

The day a student starts at Young Epilepsy the planning programme for their transition to their next placements begins. Residential students develop their independent skills through the waking day curriculum. In the last year we work closely with the Local Authority and the next provider to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

There is a thorough system of assessments to ensure resources are allocated and matched to meet the young person’s needs (see below for details of the assessment). What makes Young Epilepsy unique is the multi-disciplinary approach that we use. An individual’s needs are assessed by education, medical and residential care specialists and by a range of therapists. The various teams work together to provide a level of care tailored to the student to ensure they reach their full potential and have all the relevant resourses in place.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

Initial contact should be made to the Education Liaison Service team, who will manage the referral process for anyone wishing to use our education, health and care services.

The team gather information so we can understand your young person’s needs. Our multidisciplinary team assess the documentation following which an informal meeting will be arranged.

When a residential placement is sought, we invite the young person for a two day assessment which involves attending the school or college and spending an overnight stay on one of our residential houses. They would join in the various evening activities with other students.

When a day place is sought, the young person is invited to attend a two day assessment. This involves attending lessons and undertaking activities with students of a similar ability.

The young person is also assessed by our therapy and medical teams. This allows us to fully understand all their needs and how we could support and develop the young person.

Following the assessment, the family will be advised of the decision. If appropriate, a funding request would then be made to the local authority. Each child will receive a comprehensive assessment from our multi-disciplinary team to assess their needs prior to starting at the school or college and these are assessed regularly to ensure the child/young person is receiving the support they require.

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

In the majority of cases, parents/carers are directly involved in deciding what care will be provided for the student. The medical and behavioural conditions our students have are unique to each individual and so we value input from parent/carers as they can often explain what care their child requires. We believe that it is essential to have good relationships in place with them.

For day students at St Piers School, a ‘day book’ relays to parents/carers what progress the student has made and what has happened that day. It also enables parents and carers to understand the levels they are working to. Home learning is undertaken by day and residential students and this will also be detailed in the day book.

St Piers School and St Piers College have a formal system of annual reviews. These reviews assess progress and parents/carers are fully involved in this process. We also hold parents’ evenings where educational progress can be assessed and any queries dealt with.

Parents are represented on the Governing Body. We would always encourage their involvement and appreciate the fact they are engaged with St Piers School and St Piers College.