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The aim in all our schools is to provide a challenging, stimulating, safe and secure learning environment.
We Are Special Because Together We Make A Difference
Children and young people at all levels of ability must be fully included in our Newcastle Schools. Our specialist provision will continue to develop as an integral part of the Newcastle Community of Schools. It will ensure a continuum of provision that will allow all children and young people to be active, participating members of our community of schools and the wider community beyond
Newcastle Special Schools
All our special schools are successful schools that provide an excellent environment for working and learning have a very high ratio of staff to pupils, and a broad range of other practitioners and support staff to help meet the individual needs of children that have been identified in statements.
The schools provide a wide range of services to support the education of their pupils. Nursing and therapy staff are located on site and visiting therapists and other professionals representing health and social services visit the schools to work with pupils.
All special provision in Newcastle offers access to the whole school curriculum including the National Curriculum, together with individually planned learning programmes linked to continuous monitoring and evaluation of progress.
We liaise closely with parents, who are involved a all stages of their child's education. All our special schools welcome visits by parents. Regular open days are held to provide an opportunity to see how the schools operate, see the pupils in action, meet staff and view the facilities.
In addition to core staff our special schools have multi-disciplinary teams which may be made up of some or all of the following:
- Educational Psychologist
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- School Health Adviser
- Consultant Paediatrician
- Staff from the Children with Disabilities Team (Social Services)
- Staff from the Community Team for Learning Disabilities (CTLD)
There are four special schools within Newcastle upon Tyne Local Authority:
Hadrian School is a school for pupils aged 2 – 11 with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Physiotherapist, speech therapists and an occupational therapist and nursing staff have their bases in school: Specialist facilities include:
- Interactive Hydrotherapy Pool
- Space for Sports and Arts
- Sensory Quadrangle and Garden
- Soft Play Room
- Interactive Sensory Room
- Adventure Playground
- Sensory Integration Room
Hadrian School has extended school provision, including an accredited training centre
Sir Charles Parsons School is a school for pupils aged 11- 19 with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Physiotherapists, speech therapists and an occupational therapist and nursing staff have their bases in school.
Thomas Bewick School is a school for pupils aged 4 – 19. Speech therapists, an occupational therapist and nursing staff have their bases in school.
The school uses augmentative communication systems to develop pupils’ communication skills and encourage them to communicate through the use of signage and symbols. Combinations of speaking, listening, signing, writing, and picture exchange (PECS) are beneficial when children and young people have difficulties with communication.
Residential Provision at Thomas Bewick
Thomas Bewick School provides part-time residential to provide small group living experience for pupils. This is based in a single storey building with a living area, dining room, games room and kitchen. There is a safe accessible patio area that enables the children and young people to be outdoors when weather permits.
Trinity School is a school for pupils aged 7 – 16 who have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. There are three sites at Kenton Lodge (mainly Key Stage 2 pupils), Deneview , (mainly Key Stage 3 pupils )and Trinity (mainly Key Stage 4 pupils).
Additionally Resourced Centres (ARCS) are within our mainstream schools where they have extra staff and resources to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs.