Blackfriars Key Learning Centre (KLC)

Blackfriars will:

• Provide a stimulating and dynamic education in a vibrant school for the core of pupils for whom it is appropriate. Currently there are 175 on roll. A further cohort of 20 19-21 year olds are educated through a franchise arrangement with Stoke on Trent College.

• Provide a specialist outreach and support role to physically/medically impaired pupils in mainstream schools/colleges. The outreach service is co-ordinated in school by a Deputy Headteacher but involves other teachers and teaching assistants. It supports 134 mainstream schools plus FE colleges, independent schools, nurseries, playgroups and childminders in its area.

• In collaboration with the District Office, work to include all pupils for whom a place in mainstream is possible.

• Provide a linked relationship with named schools and colleges to provide all pupils and students with mainstream experience and socialisation.

• In collaboration with Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent LAs, local Further Education Colleges, develop and extend the school's 16-19 work at the Bucknall site as an inclusive FE provider with funding from the Learning and Skills Council.

• Provide a training package for Leadership Teams and Governors on leading and managing inclusive schools/colleges. The course will help schools develop the correct structure, ethos and culture and consider the provision of academic, physical, social and emotional access.

• Provide professional development for teachers and teaching assistants to enable mainstream schools to increase their capacity to support inclusion.
• In-service training as requested.
• Teaching assistants course for those working with physically disabled pupils in mainstream schools [accredited through Staffordshire University].
• Provide professional support/advice to the LEA
• Provide input to QLS courses as registered tutors.
• Share its expertise in ICT through Blackfriars ICT Centre
  Blackfriars ICT Centre aims to:
• provide a support service for special needs children in mainstream schools, particularly those having physical difficulties, and so help to maintain their inclusion in this sector
• offer support to those special schools who feel they may benefit from the expertise of Blackfriars in this area

We offer:

• an ICT assessment for special needs pupils with a physical difficulty in any type of school
• advice on the most appropriate hardware, peripherals, software
• access to a resource bank in the above for a limited loan period
• pupil and staff support, for a fixed period of time, in the use of ICT
• a telephone, fax, e mail and web site information service
• in service training

• Help the successful inclusion of pupils with limited or no expressive language by making available the school's Communication Team to provide programmes/advice/support

• Assist in the successful transition of physically disabled pupils at Key Stages 2/3, 4/5, 5/lifelong learning [a time when research shows that previous good inclusive practice breaks down] by providing a service of working with both schools/college involved in the transition process to ensure that the pupil continues to receive the best and moat appropriate education

• Secure the best learning environment for physically disabled pupils by the loan of specialist resources/equipment. The equipment will be loaned on a short term basis to either help a pupil through a specific need or for the partner school to see if it would be appropriate for purchase.

• Enable mainstream staff to keep up to date in relation to inclusive education by providing a library of books/pamphlets/websites/videos on current thinking within inclusive education, research findings and information on specific disabilities

• Assist schools who wish to develop and extend inclusive practice by providing an approved and trained assessor for those seeking the Every Person Matters [EPM] award
• Fulfil the requirements of Health and Safety legislation and ensure the well-being of staff and pupils by providing moving and handling training by qualified instructors on Blackfriars staff

• Provide a network of mutual support, encouragement and evaluation for schools developing inclusive practice by:
• developing a system of staff mentoring
• establishing a framework of peer assisted self-evaluation

• Ensure that special needs pupils are given a wide range of opportunities and have access to nationally accredited courses by demonstrating and helping develop and implement appropriate KS4 & 5 accreditation. The school is also an accredited centre and other schools can register pupils through us.

• Give support to the wider family of special needs children in partner schools and help involve them more closely in the learning process.

• Provide day centre opportunities for profoundly disabled young people from the age of 19 - 25. An independent company at the Further Education site provides vocational, educational, social and care opportunities for 20 clients

• Provide the school as a community resource. Currently the school is used by 12 different organisations for a total of 58 hours a week

• Take a lead role as a Vocational College in developing vocational education for special needs pupils

• Support local schools in science and PE through the provision of Advanced Skills Teachers [AST’s] in these subject areas

• Research best practice in inclusive education, assimilate within school and implement as appropriate
• Work together through Technology College status with Madeley High School to promote an innovative, dynamic, inclusive and creative learning community with our partner mainstream schools and the local and business communities.
• Offer a pre-school scheme for special needs pupils with the aim of them integrating in to local mainstream provision by statutory school age. It is called BEARS [Blackfriars Education Access & Resource Scheme] and provides a structured, multi-disciplinary learning environment which provides children with special needs and their parent/carer access to early learning.

• Provide swimming for Blackfriars pupils, their families and other local special needs children on Saturdays. Physically disabled pupils in mainstream can join timetabled swimming sessions mid-week.
• Respond to current research findings that show that pupils in mainstream schools with dyspraxia or gross/fine loco-motor skills have low esteem and make unsatisfactory academic progress by:
• Establishing a ' Skill School' providing multi-professional input focussing on motor skills development.
• Developing Blackfriars as a Regional Centre for Wheelchair Football [Football Association support for this]
• Provide technical and curriculum support for partner schools from an experienced Teacher-Conductor [Conductive Education]

• Extend the knowledge and understanding of Blackfriars staff in inclusion and continue their professional development in this field through the DRIP [Developing a Resource for Inclusive Practice] Project. It will:
• Identify and develop appropriate skills for all staff
• Promote inclusive practice
• Raise awareness of inclusive practice in mainstream
• Identify issues related to physically impaired pupils in mainstream
• Raise awareness of educational opportunities in special schools

Work as a recognised spoke school in the Schools’ Enterprise Education Network [S’EEN] to develop and extend enterprise education across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent special schools in collaboration with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.