Avalon School

Health and Wellbeing

At Avalon School we understand that our pupil’s health and wellbeing directly impact on their ability to learn and reach their full potential.  We believe in a joined-up approach working closely with parents, carers, health professionals and outside agencies to ensure that individual needs are met.  Teaching and support staff are trained to deal with day to day medical and personal care needs as outlined in individual student care plans.

Nurture breakfast

Every morning our students are welcomed into their class by the class team and offered breakfast of their choice.  It is a time for nourishment and an opportunity to have a period of time to settle into the day.  Some classes ‘buy’ their breakfast so it feels like a café, most students choose and make their own breakfast and teachers deliver structured teaching where appropriate, linked to our PSHE programme.

Therapies and intervention

Avalon School works in partnership with a range of professionals including:

  • Wheelchair services
  • Paediatricians, community nurses, health visitors
  • Physiotherapists, Speech & Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists
  • Mental health support teams and CAMHS among others

Referrals are made by class teachers with parent carer permission  and interventions support our children and young people to access learning.

We are very lucky to have our own team of professionals who support the health and care needs of our young people and ensure that they have high quality interventions. These include:

  • Mental Health First Aiders
  • Drama Therapist
  • Music Therapist 
  • Thrive Practitioner
  • Speech, Language and Communication Colleagues
  • Sensory Integration Colleagues
  • Bikeability Tutor
  • Forest School Practitioner

We also work closely with the Educational Psychology Service. 

Thrive is a dynamic, developmental approach to working with children and young people that helps teachers and support staff to interpret their behaviour and address their emotional needs, starting with an assessment of each child.

When our skilled Thrive practitioners have assessed the child against the Thrive framework, which is a program that creates an action plan and measures outcome, they deliver play and arts activities in one-to-one sessions, in small group sessions, or support teams in class.  There is a focus on being in relationship with trusted adults and staff members.

The Thrive approach facilitates children and young people to:

  • Feel good about themselves.
  • Know that they matter.
  • Become more resilient and resourceful.
  • Have a positive place in society.
  • Form trusting, rewarding relationships.
  • Be creative.
  • Be compassionate and empathetic.
  • Be thoughtful and self-aware.
  • Be productive.
  • Be able to overcome difficulties and setbacks.

 

 

The National Curriculum

Avalon School follows the guidance in the National Curriculum and covers the subjects relevant to Key Stage 3 as follows:

  • English (Reading, Writing and Spoken Language)
  • Maths (Number, Geometry, Measurement and Statistics)
  • Science
  • Art and Design
  • Computing
  • Design and Technology
  • Foreign languages
  • Geography
  • History
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Religious Education
  • Sex and Relationships Education
  • Citizenship

 

 

PSHE

All pupils are taught a rich programme of learning through PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) including Relationships and Sex Education.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education is a subject embedded throughout the curriculum by which pupils are supported to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. These skills and attributes help pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for a good and purposeful life in the wider community.

Thrive

Thrive is a dynamic, developmental approach to working with children and young people that helps teachers and support staff to interpret their behaviour and address their emotional needs, starting with an assessment of each child.

When our skilled Thrive practitioner has assessed the child against the Thrive framework which is a program that creates an action plan and measures outcome, she and her assistant will deliver play and arts activities in one-to-one sessions, in small group sessions, or support teams in class.  There is a focus on being in relationship with trusted adults and staff members.

The Thrive approach facilitates children and young people to:

  • Feel good about themselves
  • Know that they matter
  • Become more resilient and resourceful
  • Have a positive place in society
  • Form trusting, rewarding relationships
  • Be creative
  • Be compassionate and empathetic
  • Be thoughtful and self-aware
  • Be productive
  • Be able to overcome difficulties and setbacks