Oliver House School provides a highly bespoke package of care for each and every young person that we support. We build an individually-tailored plan to help our students reach their academic, emotional and social potential.
The school is divided into four distinct phases, as opposed to classes. These are:
Phase 1: For our pupils who are of primary age
Phase 2: For our pupils who are of secondary age
Phase 3: For our pupils in the 16-19 age group
Phase 4: A distinct first floor provision for pupils who are working within a more mainstream academic level but who experience a great difficulty with anxiety; these pupils usually have a diagnosis of high functioning autism/Asperger syndrome
Similar young people are grouped together in a phase, with each phase typically having six or seven pupils, although this is very flexible.
A bespoke package of learning support
Our person-centred ethos shapes every aspect of life at Oliver House School. Take for example, the spaces that children learn in: We do not have standard classrooms that children are expected to fit within, instead each young person has their own individual classroom, as well as access to group learning environments. This allows us to build a bespoke package of learning support, where the young person is able to learn alone or as part of a small group, according to their evolving needs. Whilst specific to the Oliver House School model, this approach also fits well into the TEACCH structure.
A high staff to pupil ratio means we can offer 1:1 support (or higher, should the young person’s needs dictate). This support is provided by teaching assistants and is in addition to that of a qualified teacher who will oversee the individual’s learning during a lesson.
Keeping you informed
Oliver House School prides itself on building close relationships with parents and carers. We hold termly coffee mornings, Looked After Children meetings and annual reviews which give parents and carers a chance to visit the school, meet with staff and discuss their child’s progress. We also use these meetings as an opportunity to celebrate our young people’s achievements by presenting a video slide show of some of the work and activities that they have been involved in.
We take a pro-active and personalised approach to keeping parents and carers up-to-date with their child’s progress. On admission, we agree with parents/carers what communication they want, how often and if they prefer face-to-face, telephone or email updates. Contact is then individually tailored to requirements in line with these preferences, whether this be a call on a Friday or a daily email.
An innovative approach to support
We take an innovative approach to the way we support the children and young people in our care. We have around 120 staff in total, working across both the school itself and our four associated homes, meaning that often a young person has the same team providing their care for educational and for residential purposes.
Family involvement
For our young people in residence, family involvement may take many different forms, including:
- Home visits for young people to be with family
- Supported home visits
- Trips out with family/staff from the home
- Parents visiting the young person’s home
Our in-house speech and language therapists are also able to offer training to parents and carers who want to learn how to improve communication with their child. Such initiatives help Oliver House School to deliver a holistic package of care for the young people in our care, whether they are a residential or day pupil.