Uniform
HHTS has no uniform and welcomes all students. However, students are guided by both teachers and medical staff to wear appropriate clothing.
School opening and closing times
Our school day begins for staff at 8.45 whereupon a register is collated by visiting the wards receiving handovers on students and sharing information with all staff at briefing. The school day is dictated by the hospital wards and their treatment timetable for patients. Lessons begin at 9.30 and end at 3.30 for students, 6 hours per day. The school day for teachers officially ends at 4.00pm to allow teachers to attend patient/student care plan meetings after school.
Both school and hospital staff see education as an intrinsic part of recovery. Students who are well enough during their stay in hospital are expected to attend full school days. Wards and medical staff are encouraged to enable students to attend school by delivering as much medical care as possible outside the school day.
The school day
The HHTS school day looks reassuringly like many mainstream school days. It is designed to give normality in educational expectations while a young person is unwell and undergoing medical treatment. This can be a traumatic time for our young people and their families. We are mindful of this while ensuring that our young people can use this time to address gaps in their learning, overcome barriers to learning and make accelerated progress when they are ready.
We enable students to thrive in their time with us through:
- ascertaining their previous levels of achievement
- gathering their current curriculum offer and any unmet aspirations
- effective and timely baseline assessments
- ensuring a personalised, flexible and broad curriculum offer
- ensuring an outstanding calibre of teachers who understand and can meet all learners needs.
In her 2017 paper, Dr. Tara Porter of the Royal Free Hospital states that ‘it is real life which helps kids to get better’ or perhaps more accurately ‘makes them want to get better’. At HHTS, in addition to outstanding personalised teaching, we ensure inspirational life experiences are a key part of our students’ education and recovery. An emphasis on lessons promoting engagement and social skill development boosts self-esteem and raises aspirations. As with all aspects of our service, the UNCRC articles also inform our policy and practice:
‘All children have the right to learn and to an education that develops their personality, talents and abilities to the full’
Articles 28 & 29
‘Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities’
Article 31
Please continue onto our curriculum areas to find out more about education programmes at HHTS