24-hour learning

After school, students have a wide choice of creative, leisure and home management activities, all of which complement and extend their learning in school. The Shires is committed to encouraging students to maintain a healthy lifestyle and so there is a strong emphasis on physical activity during the weekends and evenings.

For the students at The Shires there are significant advantages to living and going to school in one location. The effectiveness of having the same management and staff teams bringing their skills together to support students throughout their waking day is the key to the students making progress.  Care staff and teaching staff work together all the time and share staff training.  

Staff employ the same, consistent approach when implementing new learning and development in personal skills which spans both settings.The consultant therapists and psychologist work in the home setting as well as in school enabling them to have a first hand view of the students’ needs throughout the waking day. Communication between the home and school is seamless. Staff at all levels meet on a daily basis to talk about the students and jointly work on care plans and education plans to ensure consistency.

 

What Ofsted says...

Education and welfare provision is fully integrated and seamless. This means that from the time students wake up until the time they go to sleep they are engaged in productive activities that move their learning forward.