Prospectus - Larkrise School · School Prospectus June 2014 Page 5 of 24 General Information about Larkrise School Larkrise School is a Local Authority day school for pupils aged

Larkrise School

Ashton Street

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 7EB

Prospectus

Headteacher: Mr Phil Cook

Chair of Governors: Mr Robert Ham

Telephone: 01225 761434

Fax: 01225 774585

E-Mail address: [email protected]

School Prospectus June 2014 Page 2 of 24

Welcome to Larkrise School

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Larkrise School. We are pleased that you have made contact

with us and hope this will be the beginning of a fulfilling and happy

relationship between you, your child and our school community. In our

experience the best educational outcomes for your child are achieved

through positive communication and collaborative working.

Larkrise School aims to develop and celebrate the whole child, giving them

the best possible set of values, skills and knowledge to carry into their

future lives.

As a school team we aim to provide exciting and stimulating experiences

and activities for each and every child. We have high expectations of all

children and a firm belief that everybody can achieve their potential and

make a positive contribution to the community.

This information pack will give a brief overview of the school and hopefully

communicate a little about our ethos and values. However, no document can

come close to the real experience and so we encourage all prospective

pupils and parents to visit as often as they need in order to decide whether

Larkrise is the right school. All staff recognise that choosing a school for

a child is a huge decision and we will offer all the support we can during the

process.

I have enjoyed every moment I have spent at Larkrise and I am very proud

to be associated with such wonderful children and staff. I do hope that

you will visit and, in time, join our school community.

I look forward to meeting you personally in the near future.

Yours sincerely

Mr Phil Cook

Headteacher


Our Vision Larkrise School recognises that all pupils are of equal worth and should be

nurtured as individuals. The curriculum is adapted so that all pupils have

opportunities to develop appropriately. A holistic approach to education is

adopted to support the development of the child as a whole. Physical, mental,

cognitive, social, moral and spiritual well-being is fostered in all pupils. Their

achievements are celebrated and respected.

The rights and responsibilities of all groups are recognised, valued and supported.

Everyone in the school considers that safety, security and happiness are

paramount to an individual’s well-being. A moral code is promoted so that pupils

are able to distinguish right from wrong irrespective of how others behave.

Tolerance and understanding of individuals and diverse social groups is

encouraged.

The adaptation of the school environment is managed so that pupils move from

dependent learning to independence in wider settings. The future needs and

skills of pupils are kept sight of so that their education is relevant today,

tomorrow and in the future.

The school is realistic and optimistic

about the futures of pupils. Educational

priorities are set and these priorities

are developed and shared with relevant

stakeholders. The school believes that

all pupils should be challenged through

high expectations to achieve a standard

they can be proud of. Upon leaving

school all pupils should be ready to take

an appropriate place in society, equipped

to both contribute and benefit from life

beyond school. To achieve this, the

school actively promotes links with the

community, in particular, giving students

opportunities to work and socialise with

peers from other schools.

The Sensory Project


‘ACHIEVING TOGETHER’ Larkrise School provides a stimulating education in a supportive environment

where pupils are challenged and every individual is valued.

Larkrise School Aims: To provide a curriculum which meets the special educational needs of all

pupils and which reflects their entitlement to the National Curriculum

To develop pupils’ social and emotional skills, enabling them to enter into

meaningful and fulfilling relationships with others

To build a whole-school ethos which empowers pupils to express their

independence

To provide equal opportunities for all pupils to access a balanced, broadly

based and relevant curriculum which reflects the pupils’ cultural diversity

To respond to pupils’ individual learning styles through the use of a variety

of teaching methods

To provide a curriculum which includes developmental, experiential and

therapeutic approaches.

Messy food art


General Information about Larkrise School

Larkrise School is a Local Authority day school for pupils aged 3 to 19 who have

either severe and complex learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorder or

profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Larkrise School admits pupils from a wide catchment area, which extends to

Trowbridge, Chippenham, Melksham, Devizes, Warminster, Westbury, Bradford-

on-Avon, and the outlying villages. Our pupils are escorted into school on

minibuses; they enjoy these journeys and have good relationships with their

drivers and Passenger Assistants. Although some children have to travel a long

distance, we try to keep their journeys as short as possible.

Larkrise School is a purpose-built school which shares a site with Paxcroft

Primary School. The centre of the school is the hall, which contains an exciting

climbing wall along with a range of other Physical Education equipment.

The hall is also used for Drama and Gymnastics sessions. The whole school meets

in the hall at lunch times and for assemblies. Hoisting facilities have been put in

place to ensure accessibility

We have recently built a new 6th Form Block which includes classrooms, common

room and garden. Also recently created are a Sensory Room and Food Technology

Room.

The Food Technology Room


There are ten classrooms. All pupils have access to computers within the

classroom and use a wide variety of switches and aids to help them to use ICT to

communicate and learn. Each room is equipped with either an Interactive White

Board or Interactive Plasma Screen.

The school has its own hydrotherapy pool

which was opened in 1989 by HRH the

Princess Royal. The Federation of Master

Builders as part of their Millennium

project extended the area in 1999. The

pool area underwent further developments

in 2008, which led to the construction of

large changing areas and showers for the

pupils to use after Physical Education.

In 2009 Larkrise installed an H-Frame Hoisting System throughout the pool area;

this has enhanced students’ safety, enjoyment and physiotherapy benefits,

particularly with our Therapeutic Learning Groups (TLG).

We have an outdoor classroom with

greenhouses in our school grounds

where the older pupils grow

vegetables and herbs, which they

use in their Food Technology

lessons.

It is the wide range of facilities at

Larkrise School that makes it an

interesting and challenging school

in which to learn. Every pupil is encouraged to develop their own particular skills

using the facilities, which meet their needs.


WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN LARKRISE

SCHOOL?

Senior Management Team:

Head Teacher - Mr Phil Cook

Deputy Head Teacher - Miss Siobhan Cheadle

Assistant Head Teacher - Miss Jo Burton

School Business Manager - Mrs Mandy Cole

Senior Administrator - Mrs Hazel Fitchen

Site Manager - Mr Steve Fitchen

Parent Support Advisor – Helen Crapnell

The rest of the staff include:

Teaching Staff

Higher Level Teaching Assistants

Teaching Assistants

ICT Specialist

Speech and Language Therapist

Artist in Residence

Midday Assistants

Minibus Drivers

Pupils and students also have the regular support of:

Physiotherapist

Occupational Therapist

Music Therapist

Peripatetic Music Teacher (brass)


LARKRISE SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY

Mr Robert Ham – Chair of Governors

Mr Ian Hill – Vice Chair of Governors, Chair of Finance/Site and Premises

Diane Williams – Chair of Curriculum/Staffing

Ms Helen Crapnell - Clerk to Governors/Minute Clerk

Miss Mary Seaman

Mr Paul Gane

Miss Natalie Bracey

Mrs Sue Brown

Mrs Jill Wild

Mrs Tessa Bools

Mr Phil Ratcliffe

Mr Phil Cook (Head Teacher)

The Full Governing Body meets formally at least once per term i.e. 3 times per

year. The Senior Management Team also attends these meetings.

All Governors are members of committees. Under the Scheme of Delegation

certain responsibilities are delegated to the committees who in turn report back

to the Full Governing Body. At present we have the following committees:

Finance/Site & Premises/Health & Safety

Curriculum/Staffing

Each committee has its own Terms of Reference which are reviewed annually. We

are always looking for potential new governors. If you or anyone you know is

interested in becoming a school governor and would like more information, please

contact Helen Crapnell through the School.

Governors are important and valued members of the school community and we

need people from all walks of life. Training and support is available for governors.


SCHOOL DATES AND LESSON TIMES Please see the enclosed School Terms and Holiday dates issued by Wiltshire

Council.

In addition to these holidays, the school is closed to pupils for a further five

days. These are Teacher Development Days that enable staff to undertake in-

service training and are a statutory requirement. The dates for TD Days are

given to parents in September of each school year.

Arrival 9.00 – 9.10am

Lesson Times: Morning Lessons: 9:10 – 12:00pm

Afternoon Lessons: 1:15 – 3:30pm

The Lower and Upper schools take breaks during the school day appropriate to

their ages.

A trip to the museum


WHICH CLASS WILL MY CHILD BE IN? There are ten classes in school. The classes are divided into Lower and Upper

schools. This helps in planning suitable activities for pupils and students at

different key stages. The pupils and students are all taught by qualified and

experienced teachers who are supported in class by a number of experienced

Teaching Assistants.

Key Stages 1 and 2

Bluebirds

Robins

Peacocks

Puffins

Post 16 Students

Eagles

Key Stages 3 and 4

Owls

Woodpeckers

Parrots

Finches

Kingfishers

There are a variety of other professionals who also work with our pupils and

students. These include Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists,

Occupational Therapists and a peripatetic Music Therapist.

Each classroom is resourced and equipped in a different way. This reflects the

variety of needs of the pupils in the class.

In the Key Stage 1 groups you will find water play, sand play and a home corner.

Classrooms change as pupils progress through the school giving them the

opportunity to develop a new set of skills.


We have recently had new classrooms built, including extra kitchens which our

other upper school pupils use as part of the curriculum.

They also learn to socialise and make regular trips to places such as Fairfield

College. All our classrooms tell you something about the pupils and students in

them.

The older students in the post-16 class cook their own meals.

We invite you to visit Larkrise School;

it will help you to understand what

your child is doing in class and give you

an opportunity to see the wonderful

resources we have here such as the

sensory room and hydrotherapy pool.

However we do ask you to let the

school know in advance of your

intended visit; many of our pupils are

easily distracted and we try not to

disturb lesson times. Remember

though, that you are very welcome.


THE CURRICULUM Larkrise School is committed to delivering a broad curriculum, which incorporates

the relevant aspects of the National Curriculum with life and social skills. We

have developed schemes of work for each area of the curriculum, which provide

achievable targets for all ability levels.

The starting point in the curriculum is to provide each individual child with a

specifically designed programme to meet his or her needs. As the pupils move

through the school, the programme will adapt to allow new skills to develop.

One of the main aims of Larkrise School is to improve communication skills; a

variety of techniques are used to emphasise pupils’ levels of communication such

as music therapy, the use of Makaton throughout the school, pictures and

objects.

At Larkrise School we are firm

believers in 3D learning; this means

that whilst a lot of our learning takes

place in the classroom, we try to take

our pupils and students into the

community as much as possible in order

for them to experience real-life

application of the skills they have

learned.

Another central element of the curriculum is to develop functional independence

and life skills. Pupils are taught appropriate self-help skills and encouraged to

make independent choices that will assist with these skills.

As our pupils get older the number of activities reaching out to the community

are increased; for example, our post-16 students run a coffee shop on a regular

basis to raise funds for a girl named Paula in Benin, Africa whom they sponsor.

At these coffee shops, funds are also raised for local good causes. E.g. Dorothy

House Hospice, Help for Heroes, Wilts Air Ambulance. They also run their own

business giving them direct contact with a wide community.


The curriculum at Larkrise School takes into account the differing abilities and

experiences of all of our pupils and students. We provide an education

appropriate to individual needs. It will give pupils the opportunity to develop and

learn within a supportive atmosphere.

Larkrise School will:

Deliver the National Curriculum specific to each child’s needs

Provide stimulating activities to increase enjoyment and learning

Set challenging and achievable targets for individual pupils

Develop communication skills

Develop self-confidence and skills towards independent living

Encourage a caring, respectful attitude towards each other

Ensure continuity and progression

Use extra curricular activities to enhance the education offered to pupils


The Multi-Sensory Installation: Colour

The Multi-Sensory Colour Installation at Larkrise School is inspired by a sensory

interpretation of the artists Michael Craig-Martin, David Batchelor and Phyllida

Barlow’s sculpture exhibited at the New Art Centre, Roche Court.

The installation focuses on the

perception of colour in our everyday

lives. Representing various activities,

such as eating and dressing, the

installation makes a visual connection

with our immediate environments and

association with objects in our

everyday lives. The artist Michael

Craig-Martin uses colour in his

painting and sculpture to produce

vivid compositions exploring the

expressive potential of everyday or

common place objects. These

compositions combine the seemingly ordinary nature of the objects with a

transformative use of colour.

Materials are an important consideration

of the space and have been influenced by

the work of the artist, Phyllida Barlow.

The artist often uses inexpensive materials that could be considered detritus and

invites audiences to reconsider the objects and environments she creates anew.

The space has been compartmentalised into separate colours to reference the

colour wheel.

“Structures that resonate with

emotional intensity and the

urgency of their creation.”

“The use of colour in the

installation accentuates

form, shape and

materials creating an

imaginative perception of

the everyday, a world

full of colour”.


SUPPORTING PROFESSIONALS

Physiotherapy

The NHS Primary Care Trust provides and manages our physiotherapy; the

chartered physiotherapist is responsible for the assessment of our pupils and

designs programmes to improve the physical abilities, independent mobility and

functional independence of pupils. In school, staff deliver, programmes on a daily

basis.

Speech and Language Therapy

An experienced therapist and a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant support

our school; their main areas of work are:

The development of communication

The development of feeding patterns through direct intervention and

advice to staff and parents

The provision of information, training and support for colleagues and

carers

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapy takes into account the everyday living skills that our pupils

need to help them participate in school and at home. The aim is to enable

children to enhance their independent skills as much as possible.

Music Therapist

Music therapy has numerous advantages but

primarily focuses on giving our pupils a method

of communication; the children can play

instruments or sing to express themselves in

small groups or as individuals.

This can be a valuable and appropriate form of

expression for a wide spectrum of learning

difficulties and emotional needs. It also

encourages respect for others and a sense of

working together. There is a secluded, quiet room where they can work without

disruption.


School Nurse

The NHS provides Larkrise with a nurse who comes into school and works with

doctors and other health professionals.

The school nurse offers: Medical and dietician clinics at the school

Health care plans

One-to-one work with young people

Educational programmes with classes developing awareness of drugs,

alcohol, smoking and sexual health

Advice and support for parents/carers

Art Specialist

Artwork is a wonderful form of expression for our pupils; Larkrise has sessions

with an art specialist who comes into school to work with the children on a regular

basis. This artwork is often relevant to a particular curriculum theme the class is

studying.


What will your child need in school?

All pupils should wear the school uniform:

Lower School pupils:

Blue school sweatshirt with embroidered logo

White or sky blue polo shirt with embroidered logo

Grey/black skirt or trousers

Upper School pupils:

Navy school sweatshirt with embroidered logo

White or sky blue polo shirt with embroidered logo

Grey/black skirt or trousers

The school uniform is suitable for all school activities. School sweatshirts and

polo shirts are available from Scholars. The Scholars website is www.scholars-

uk.com which provides information on store locations and contact details.

Post-16 students do not wear school uniform and may come into school in

whatever they feel comfortable in and is appropriate to the activities of the day.

In addition your child will need, as appropriate:

Swimming and/or hydrotherapy kit – a bag containing a swimming

costume/trunks and a towel

Physical Education kit – a bag containing shorts, a t-shirt, gym shoes and a

shower kit (for those pupils for whom it is appropriate we have showers in

school for use after Physical Education.)

PE shorts and Larkrise emblem shirts can be purchased through the school.

Art and Craft kit – an apron/overall or an old shirt adapted to fit.

It is very important all items are clearly named. Your child may not be able to

tell us what belongs to him or her. It will save time and inconvenience by labelling

everything clearly.


The Administration of Medicines Responsibility for giving medicines lies with parents or legal guardians.

If pupils need regular medicine or treatment, the school has procedures for

administration and will enter into a written agreement with parents. A form

giving the school permission to administer medicines must be completed and

signed by parents; forms can be obtained from the school office.

If your child’s medication changes parents must notify the school immediately

and complete a new form.

All medication must be in the original container with the pupil’s full name, date

and required dosage.

Absences from School Details of authorised and unauthorised absences from school are given to parents

and carers in pupils’ annual reviews.

In your Home School Diary you will find blank forms to record any absence. It is

a statutory requirement that you give us written notification of any absence. It

helps us know in advance of a proposed absence, including medical and dental

appointments. If your child is unwell, please call your minibus Passenger

Assistant directly to inform them. However you must put the reason for absence

in writing for us– the blank forms are aimed to make this easier for you.

It is essential that we have a contact telephone number in school in order for us

to get in touch with you or a member of your family should there be an

emergency or query. This ensures that we can reach you if your child needs you.

If an emergency results in an absence the law requires that you still give us a

written explanation.

Holidays

Parents are asked not to take holidays in term time unless it is unavoidable. If

pupils are to be away from school for a holiday then a ‘holiday form’ must be

completed and returned to the school office in advance.


Change of Address If you change your address or telephone number, please notify the school

immediately.

Dual Placement/Inclusion It may be appropriate for some pupils and students to have inclusion sessions at

local mainstream schools or colleges; this can be arranged on a regular basis for

lessons, visits or set activities.

Pupils or students may also require dual registration, attending a special school on

a part time basis and also a mainstream school.

All of these opportunities are carefully monitored to ensure each child benefits

and it remains appropriate for his or her learning.


WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU NEED TO

TALK TO SOMEONE Larkrise School has an ‘open door’ policy.

You are welcome to telephone or arrange a visit at anytime. If you wish to speak

with a teacher it is best to contact school during the lunch break or after

3.30pm. The Parent Support Advisor – Helen Crapnell is available to support

parents with any needs or concerns they might have do please contact reception

who can put you in touch.

The school has three Parent’s Evenings a year. One in September to act as an

informal getting to know staff and general information session, one in the spring

and a third in the summer. The latter two focus on progress, achievement and

target setting.

All students also have an Annual Review meeting when parents and relevant

professionals review the Pupil Statement to ensure that the provision remains

appropriate.

When you arrive at the school for a visit you will be asked to sign the Visitors’

Book and take a seat in the foyer whilst a member of staff finds the person you

are there to see.

that can be dealt with by the class teacher; please use this on a daily basis to

give us any updates that are relevant to your child in school. You will receive

letters from the school office, which will keep you up to date, and you can visit

our website; classes also produce newsletters which update you with what your

child has done in school recently. However, please remember that you can

arrange a meeting at any time during the school year to come and see us; likewise

we will always invite you in if we need to talk.

Emails: [email protected]

We feel that it is very important to

have frequent contact with parents

and carers and due to our wide

catchment area this can sometimes be

difficult; the Home School Diary is an

excellent way for you to express any

questions or concerns you may have

mailto:[email protected]


TRANSPORT Your child may qualify for transport into school via our fleet of minibuses. We

control buses, which escort our pupils from their homes to school and back every

school day.

This service is free for under-16s but post-16s have to pay for this service. You

may seek financial assistance towards transport from the Young Peoples Learning

Allowance (YPLA). This is a teacher discretionary grant and is for families who

are financially challenged. There is a specific criteria to meet in order to qualify.

Our buses are driven by experienced minibus drivers and are accompanied by Passenger Assistants who not only assist the drivers in getting pupils into school safely, but also strengthen communications between the school and

parents/carers.

Each bus caters for different abilities; some have more wheelchair spaces than

others for example; should your child qualify for this transport then he or she

will be catered for appropriately.

Our minibus drivers have a duty of care to get our pupils into school safely and on

time. For this reason our drivers can only wait for a limited period of time and

therefore your cooperation in punctuality would be much appreciated.


CHARGING AND REMISSIONS:

PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL

Dinner Money: Your child may be entitled to free school meals in which case a form may be

requested from school which you should fill out and post to Wiltshire Council, or

you can apply online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk from the Schools and Learning Menu.

If your child is not entitled to free school meals he or she may either bring a

packed lunch into school or the school can provide a lunch if you would prefer.

Hot School lunches are also available.

We ask that if you would like the school to provide a lunch then dinner money

should be paid each Monday morning in advance; please give the money to your

minibus Passenger Assistant, or hand it into the School Office directly.

Educational day visits and residential visits:

The school does not always have funds to cover the costs for your child to take

part in day or residential visits. We ask all parents to contribute towards the

cost of some educational visits; you will be informed in advance of the type of

visit and the cost. If you have any concerns of queries you can write to the class

teacher in your child’s Home School Diary or call the school office to speak to

the teacher.

We recognise that residential visits can

prove costly and we endeavour to give

as much notice as possible when

planning such activities. We are also

happy to arrange payment by instalment

in order to spread the cost.

Other charges:

Parents are asked to contribute towards the cost of some activities such as

swimming; you will be informed of these events in advance. Cheques can be made

payable to Larkrise School.

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/


SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Admissions:

The Local Authority is responsible for referrals and placement of pupils with a

Statement of Special Educational Needs; all pupils attending Larkrise School have

a statement of special educational needs. Admission can take place throughout

the year.

Equal Opportunities:

Pupils are given equal access to all aspects of the school life; any form of

discrimination will not be tolerated.

Racial Equality:

Larkrise School provides an education that values and respects all of the

different cultures and backgrounds in our multicultural society. We promote a

sense of working together.

Special Educational Needs Policy:

Larkrise School has a policy on Special Educational Needs and a copy is obtainable

from the school office on request.

Online Safety Policy:

When online, children and young people can learn new things, get help with

homework, express themselves creatively and connect with friends and family.

There are also risks, but by understanding and talking about the dangers you can

help keep your child safe online. Here at Larkrise School we have a

comprehensive policy to help keep you and your children safe online, do ask if you

would like a copy or you can download it from our website.

Complaints Policy:

Under the terms of education Reform Act parents/carers have the right to make

a complaint to the governing body about the content/style of the school

curriculum. If you are concerned then you should contact the class teacher or

the Headteacher if the matter is unresolved. If the matter remains unresolved

then the formal complaints procedure will come into operation; a copy of the

policy can be obtained from the school office on request.

Child Protection in Larkrise School

Child protection is central to the well-being of each of our pupils and therefore is

an intrinsic part of all aspects of the curriculum. The five aspects of ‘Every Child

Matters’ (The Children Act 2004, Section 10) are woven into the whole-school


ethos. This supports the development of all our pupils in ways that will foster

security, confidence and independence. We seek to empower our pupils in all

situations. Larkrise School has a policy on Child Protection and a copy is

obtainable from the school office on request or available on our website.

(Extract taken from current policy below).

1. The Purpose of policy

We recognise that because of their day to day contact with children, school

staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse. The school will

therefore:

Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are

encouraged to talk, and are listened to.

Ensure children know that there are adults in the school who they can

approach if they are worried.

Include opportunities throughout the curriculum, including ICT, PSHE

and SEAL for children to develop the skills they need to recognise, and

stay safe from, abuse, including online abuse, and

Take advantage of experts outside school to reinforce those messages

(e.g. NSPCC and Police regarding ‘Stranger Danger’.

2. Aims

This policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school.

The policy has five main elements:

Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff

and volunteers to work with children.

Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with

the skills needed to keep them safe.

Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and

reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.

Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with their agreed

child protection plan.

Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

In accordance with the Education Act 2002, s175, the designated teachers for

child protection at Larkrise School are: Phil Cook, Siobhan Cheadle and Jo Burton.

Mr Paul Gane is the nominated School Governor.

The school has many other policies, which are reviewed when necessary by the

school’s Governing Body. If you would like to see a copy of any of these policies

then please contact the school office.

Documents

Prospectus - Larkrise School · School Prospectus June 2014 Page 5 of 24 General Information about Larkrise School Larkrise School is a Local Authority day school for pupils aged