(Graded “Good” by Ofsted on 14th December 2017)
The Lioncare School is a specialist educational setting linked to The Lioncare Group’s residential provision, but equally able to accept children living elsewhere.
Designed for children with complex social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, it offers individualised programmes of education tailored to the individual needs of each child. These needs will have emerged from the experience of abuse or rejection from their families, disruption caused through moving home and/or school placements, self-injurious activities and related behaviours that challenge adult and institutional boundaries. Most children will have a Statement of Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan that identifies additional learning disabilities and/or difficulties. Our aim is to assist students in coming to terms with difficult areas of their lives, consolidate areas in which they function well, begin to view education as a positive and rewarding experience, and where possible enable the achievement of qualifications and promote their successful return to a mainstream school or on to work experience and college placements.
While we recognise that achievement entails much more than simply meeting academic milestones we also know that strong functional skills, a knowledge of the how the world works and a capacity to engage and enjoy are the among the strongest indicators of healthy adulthood.
Our curriculum has three equal strands:
1. Making Good Progress
Each young person has an Accreditation Pathway mapped out for them that can encompass ASDAN awards, NCEF Functional Skills certificates and GCSES via Cambridge. We have an expectation of four national curriculum progress over three terms ( two sublevels) in both Maths and English and use specialist support staff to intervene as necessary.
We report on progress every term and are well support by a School Partnership Advisor and a Consultant Educational Psychologist in this area of work.
The broader curriculum is supported by three whole school projects focused on the arts, sciences and humanities. There is twice weekly PE as well as informal activities and visits.
Recent Projects:
- World War One
- Where on Earth?
- The Islamic World
- Going Green
- World War Two
Current/Upcoming PE:
- Bouldering
- Horse Riding
- Trampolining
- Table Tennis
- Football
- Gym sessions
2. Being Involved
Building relationships, participating in groups, supporting routines and rituals, celebrating public successes and contributing positively to the environment are big challenges for some young people. Targets are set and monitored termly and peer learning is hugely important to recognising and celebrating success. Key Stage Four Young People are supported to undertake work experience and college placements. Awareness of and engagement in our wider community are central to our activity days. There is no exclusion.
3. Personal Development
Home, school work with the young person to set and review targets for communication, confidence and self-regulation. A range of tools such as Boxall profiles and Psychological Assessments of Emotional Need support this and set out appropriate ways of working for each young person. The Lioncare School works with a large range of partners to ensure progress in this area is evident; this will include individual therapists, CAMHS, SALT, Educational Psychologists, Virtual Schools, Social Care teams and families.
Recent Placements for Years 10 and 11
- Plumpton College
- City College
- Central Sussex YMCA
- DV8
Recent Work Experience Opportunities
- Foot Steps Nursery
- Hove Lagoon
- Poi Passion Circus Skills
Recent Destinations for Leavers
- City College Brighton and Hove
- NACRO
- Sussex Downs College
- Further work experience/apprenticeships in Retail and Food Service
The Lioncare School Prospectus v11 2019-20
The Lioncare Group – Proudly Supporting;
| Head Teacher | Sara Fletcher B.A. Cert.Ed. Level 4 Managers into Leaders. M.A. |
| Deputy Head Teacher | Caroline Belchem B.A. PGCE |
| Chief Executive Officer | Matt Vince B.Sc. PGDip. M.A. |
| Founding Director | Beverley Collins Cert Ed. Dip MS. Cert TCC |
| Assistant Director | Jane Rayner NNEB. PGDip. CMI level 4. M.A. |
| Student Capacity | Up to 17 children of both genders |
| Age Range | 7-16 years on admission |
| Qualification of Staff | B.A. (hons), P.G.C.A.D.E., B.A. Social Sciences, B.Sc. Geography, P.G.C.E., M.A. Creative Writing, HND Jewellery & Metal Work, Paediatric 1st Aid, Counselling Skills, Dip Maternal & Child Welfare, B.A. Childhood Studies. |
| Staffing Ratio & composition | Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, 2.8 Full-Time Qualified and Experienced Special Needs Class Teachers, Activity Co-Ordinator, Senior Learning Support Assistant, 3.6 Full-Time Learning Support Assistants, Senior School Administrator, Junior School Administrator, 3 Adults-in-School (Classroom Support), Maintenance Team, Cleaner. |
| Professional Guidance | In addition to regular direct oversight, guidance, and support by the Executive Director and the Assistant Directors, The Lioncare School has regular access to independent professional consultants trained and experienced in education, childcare, and social work. They assist the Head Teacher through regular meetings with the team of adults, consultation for the Leadership Group, and monitoring visits to the school. Involvement of specialist services is sought as and when required for individual cases. The school also benefits greatly from the expertise and knowlegde offered and received through the Monitoring and Advisory Panel that meets quarterly to advise, scrutinise, and challenge the school’s Leadership Group in relevant matters including Safeguarding and Child Protection, Financial Management, Quality of Education, and effectiveness of Leadership and Management. |
| Additional Services | Individualised programmes of gradual and successful reintegration to local mainstream schools or colleges with packages of ongoing support offered. Registered AEB examination centre. Recognised programmes of assessment for academic ability and social skills and competency. |
| Cornerstones Independent School was opened in 1995 and renamed The Lioncare School in January 2011. The School was first registered in 1997 with the Department for Education and Skills:Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington DL3 9BG
DfE number – 845/6043 |