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West Kirby Residential School

West Kirby Residential School caters for boys and girls with a range of complex social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, often linked with a diagnosed condition such as Autistic Spectrum Condition.  We specialise in working with children and young people who have social and communication difficulties and offer day and/or residential provision.

Capacity - 115 across KS1/2, KS3 and Post 16.

Facilities can be extended up to the age of 19 if it is considered to be in the pupils’ best interests.

We were awarded Dyslexia Friendly School Status in June 2013 have also achieved 'Autism Accreditation', which endorses the fact that we are providing a high standard of service and care for pupils with Autism.

Our enhanced provision includes education, care, speech and language therapy physiotherapy, reading support, educational psychologist, learning mentors and a behaviour and educational support team (Integrated Services).

We have a weekly residential provision with a variety of flexible boarding arrangements available, if required.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Samantha Stephens
Telephone
E-mail
samstephens@wkrs.co.uk
Website
www.wkrs.co.uk

Where to go

Name
West Kirby Residential School
Address
Meols Drive
West Kirby
Postcode
CH48 5DH

Other Details

Availability

Other notes

The following questions have been developed by and may be of particular interest to children and young people

1.How will the school /college know if I need extra help?

Before you start you will have had the opportunity to visit the school, meet our Home/School Liaison Officer and tell us what you feel that you need. We will also have read reports from people who have worked with you in the past. Once you start at WKRS, staff will work closely with you, listening to your range of needs before creating a ‘pupil passport’, all about you, to share with your staff. You will also be seen by different departments in school (Integrated Services) to see if they need to give you extra help.

Before you become a residential pupil you will have had the opportunity to visit with your parents/carers. We also have leaflets that explain what happens in our residential groups. The care staff, who are the people that work on the residential groups, will get to know as much about you as possible. They will do this by:

•          Talking to you,

•          Talking to your parent(s)/carers,

•          Talking to staff in school who know you,

•          Reading any information that school has been sent about you.

2. What should I do if I think I need extra help?

All the staff at school will be happy to help you and give you advice but you will also have 3 key adults you may wish to talk to:

•          Form Tutor

•          Teaching Assistant

•          Key worker (from our Care Department)

These 3 people will be introduced to you once you start at school.

All you need to do is ask!

 

 

3. If I have difficulty taking part in school/college activities what different arrangements can be made for me?

Staff at the school work very hard to make sure that all young people can access the activities at school.

For some young people who have particular difficulties in some areas, we may provide:

•          An increase in the level of support you receive

•          Particular resources to help you access the activity

•          Different  activities or opportunities

•          A programme from one of our therapy departments to help you access activities

At WKRS we work to personalise your timetable to meet your learning needs

Like school, the care staff will always look at ways to help you join in activities. We want you to enjoy your time at West Kirby Residential School and so we plan to do things we know you like, as well as things that you may not have tried before. We will help you to try new things and will never ask you to do something we know you can’t.

4. How will I participate in planning my targets?

You will help plan your targets in a number of ways:

•          With your subject teachers, so that you are clear about how to make progress in lessons

•          With your form tutor in helping to create and review your IEP

•          With your TA in completing your ‘Have My Say’ each year for your Annual Review

On the Residential group you will spend time with your Keyworker. This is a member of the care staff who has responsibility to help you with all aspects of your time at West Kirby Residential School. They will have time to talk with you and look at appropriate targets for you to achieve. They will also help you complete your “Have My Say” for your annual review.

 

 

5. How does the school/college know how well I’m doing?

A really important way is through the teaching staff marking your work and giving you the opportunity to respond to their marking and comment upon your learning.

We also award ‘merits’ and have a positive monitoring system to show who is progressing well on a daily basis with individual efforts celebrated each Friday during assembly.

Pupil progress is regularly recorded by staff and shared with pupils and parents through meetings, phone calls and home/school diaries. The progress of all pupils is overseen by our Education Team Leaders who monitor pupil progress and suitable interventions.

There is a similar positive reward system on the Residential groups. You will be rewarded for achieving your targets as well as for following routines and being helpful. When we set targets with you we look at how you will know when you have met your target, so everybody will know how well you are doing.

In Post 16 we receive regular reports from colleges that you may attend that tell us about your progress.

6. Who will help me to be more independent in school?

It is a target for all school staff to help you develop your level of independence and this is achieved through the range of classroom programmes we provide, access to individual therapy programmes from specialists, residential holidays, travel training and college links.

The programs we run on the Residential groups are designed to help you develop the skills you will need to be as independent as you can be. The care staff support all of the work that school staff and therapists do with you in school. We also work closely with your parents/carers so that they know what areas you are working on, and how well you’re doing.

7. Who will help me to be more independent in my community?

All of the skills you develop are “transferable” That means that you can use them wherever you are. By working closely with you and your parents/carers we will not only help you develop skills that allow you be more independent, we will also help you use those skills in different environments such as your community. If you live close to school your key staff may help you “transfer” skills to your own community. If, however, you live a long way from school, this may not be possible. We will then work with your parents/carers in order that they can support you in a similar way to your key staff. You also may have some help from Social Services in which case we would also tell them how you are doing and what they may be able to do to help.

 

8. How will my parents/carers be supported to encourage me to be more independent?

We communicate with parents regularly through emails, telephone calls and home/school diaries, and have face to face meetings through parent/care evenings, social events, annual reviews and through our parent/carer support group.

Through this communication we are able to offer help and guidance to increase the independence of all young people by providing supportive resources/strategies of information on how to access additional provision that promotes self reliance and life skills.

In Post 16 our programmes support, where appropriate, pupils access the local community at lunchtime.

9. Who should I speak to if I’m worried about something?

If you are worried in school we would ask that you speak to someone as soon as possible about it. You can talk to any member of staff in school (or one of our governors) but may want to choose from your:

•          Form Tutor

•          Teaching Assistant

•          Key worker (from our Care Department)

You can always speak to your parents/carers and ask them to tell school about your worries if you don’t feel comfortable talking with school staff.

If you have a social worker we can arrange for you to talk to him/her, either by phone or face to face.

There are also a number of organisations that you may wish to talk to, such as Child-Line or the Children’s Rights Commissionaire. The phone numbers for these organisations are on posters around the school.

 

 

10. How do school/college staff get extra help from other experts?

At our school we have lots of expert people that we can get  help from on a daily basis, through asking their advice or setting up opportunities for you to meet with them through our referral system. These experts include:

•          Teachers

•          Teaching Assistants

•          Residential Social Workers

•          Residential care workers

•          Speech and Language therapists

•          An educational psychologist

•          School nurse

•          Dietician

•          Reading specialists

•          Physiotherapist

•          Behaviour support workers

•          Child Protection officer

•          Home/School liaison Officer

If we need more help we can contact a range of professionals from education, health and social care departments from your local authority.

11. What help is there to get me ready to start college?

The school has a careers officer who has close links with lots of colleges in the north west including:

•          Wirral Metropolitan

•          Wirral Autistic Society

•          Roby College

•          Reaseheath

•          Cheshire West, and many more

Pupils at WKRS have the opportunity to visit colleges with our careers advisors, who are always available to offer advice and guidance. The programmes that we offer within school, and particularly within our Post 16, are designed to develop the skills that you will need to successfully move on to college. We also hold open evenings, and meetings with pupils and their families, to ensure that young people are fully prepared for the transition (move).

12.What help is there to get me ready to start work?

Through meetings we have in school our careers advisors will help you prepare for starting work. We can offer a wide range of qualifications from entry level to GCSE and AS level to ensure that you have the necessary qualifications and we have work experience programmes and qualifications to give you the experience to help you prepare.

We also work with the Connexions Service to support pupils in accessing workplaces within our local community.

Local Offer

Description

The following questions have been developed by and may be of particular interest to children and young people

1.How will the school /college know if I need extra help?

Before you start you will have had the opportunity to visit the school, meet our Home/School Liaison Officer and tell us what you feel that you need. We will also have read reports from people who have worked with you in the past. Once you start at WKRS, staff will work closely with you, listening to your range of needs before creating a ‘pupil passport’, all about you, to share with your staff. You will also be seen by different departments in school (Integrated Services) to see if they need to give you extra help.

Before you become a residential pupil you will have had the opportunity to visit with your parents/carers. We also have leaflets that explain what happens in our residential groups. The care staff, who are the people that work on the residential groups, will get to know as much about you as possible. They will do this by:

•          Talking to you,

•          Talking to your parent(s)/carers,

•          Talking to staff in school who know you,

•          Reading any information that school has been sent about you.

2. What should I do if I think I need extra help?

All the staff at school will be happy to help you and give you advice but you will also have 3 key adults you may wish to talk to:

•          Form Tutor

•          Teaching Assistant

•          Key worker (from our Care Department)

These 3 people will be introduced to you once you start at school.

All you need to do is ask!

 

 

3. If I have difficulty taking part in school/college activities what different arrangements can be made for me?

Staff at the school work very hard to make sure that all young people can access the activities at school.

For some young people who have particular difficulties in some areas, we may provide:

•          An increase in the level of support you receive

•          Particular resources to help you access the activity

•          Different  activities or opportunities

•          A programme from one of our therapy departments to help you access activities

At WKRS we work to personalise your timetable to meet your learning needs

Like school, the care staff will always look at ways to help you join in activities. We want you to enjoy your time at West Kirby Residential School and so we plan to do things we know you like, as well as things that you may not have tried before. We will help you to try new things and will never ask you to do something we know you can’t.

4. How will I participate in planning my targets?

You will help plan your targets in a number of ways:

•          With your subject teachers, so that you are clear about how to make progress in lessons

•          With your form tutor in helping to create and review your IEP

•          With your TA in completing your ‘Have My Say’ each year for your Annual Review

On the Residential group you will spend time with your Keyworker. This is a member of the care staff who has responsibility to help you with all aspects of your time at West Kirby Residential School. They will have time to talk with you and look at appropriate targets for you to achieve. They will also help you complete your “Have My Say” for your annual review.

 

 

5. How does the school/college know how well I’m doing?

A really important way is through the teaching staff marking your work and giving you the opportunity to respond to their marking and comment upon your learning.

We also award ‘merits’ and have a positive monitoring system to show who is progressing well on a daily basis with individual efforts celebrated each Friday during assembly.

Pupil progress is regularly recorded by staff and shared with pupils and parents through meetings, phone calls and home/school diaries. The progress of all pupils is overseen by our Education Team Leaders who monitor pupil progress and suitable interventions.

There is a similar positive reward system on the Residential groups. You will be rewarded for achieving your targets as well as for following routines and being helpful. When we set targets with you we look at how you will know when you have met your target, so everybody will know how well you are doing.

In Post 16 we receive regular reports from colleges that you may attend that tell us about your progress.

6. Who will help me to be more independent in school?

It is a target for all school staff to help you develop your level of independence and this is achieved through the range of classroom programmes we provide, access to individual therapy programmes from specialists, residential holidays, travel training and college links.

The programs we run on the Residential groups are designed to help you develop the skills you will need to be as independent as you can be. The care staff support all of the work that school staff and therapists do with you in school. We also work closely with your parents/carers so that they know what areas you are working on, and how well you’re doing.

7. Who will help me to be more independent in my community?

All of the skills you develop are “transferable” That means that you can use them wherever you are. By working closely with you and your parents/carers we will not only help you develop skills that allow you be more independent, we will also help you use those skills in different environments such as your community. If you live close to school your key staff may help you “transfer” skills to your own community. If, however, you live a long way from school, this may not be possible. We will then work with your parents/carers in order that they can support you in a similar way to your key staff. You also may have some help from Social Services in which case we would also tell them how you are doing and what they may be able to do to help.

 

8. How will my parents/carers be supported to encourage me to be more independent?

We communicate with parents regularly through emails, telephone calls and home/school diaries, and have face to face meetings through parent/care evenings, social events, annual reviews and through our parent/carer support group.

Through this communication we are able to offer help and guidance to increase the independence of all young people by providing supportive resources/strategies of information on how to access additional provision that promotes self reliance and life skills.

In Post 16 our programmes support, where appropriate, pupils access the local community at lunchtime.

9. Who should I speak to if I’m worried about something?

If you are worried in school we would ask that you speak to someone as soon as possible about it. You can talk to any member of staff in school (or one of our governors) but may want to choose from your:

•          Form Tutor

•          Teaching Assistant

•          Key worker (from our Care Department)

You can always speak to your parents/carers and ask them to tell school about your worries if you don’t feel comfortable talking with school staff.

If you have a social worker we can arrange for you to talk to him/her, either by phone or face to face.

There are also a number of organisations that you may wish to talk to, such as Child-Line or the Children’s Rights Commissionaire. The phone numbers for these organisations are on posters around the school.

 

 

10. How do school/college staff get extra help from other experts?

At our school we have lots of expert people that we can get  help from on a daily basis, through asking their advice or setting up opportunities for you to meet with them through our referral system. These experts include:

•          Teachers

•          Teaching Assistants

•          Residential Social Workers

•          Residential care workers

•          Speech and Language therapists

•          An educational psychologist

•          School nurse

•          Dietician

•          Reading specialists

•          Physiotherapist

•          Behaviour support workers

•          Child Protection officer

•          Home/School liaison Officer

If we need more help we can contact a range of professionals from education, health and social care departments from your local authority.

11. What help is there to get me ready to start college?

The school has a careers officer who has close links with lots of colleges in the north west including:

•          Wirral Metropolitan

•          Wirral Autistic Society

•          Roby College

•          Reaseheath

•          Cheshire West, and many more

Pupils at WKRS have the opportunity to visit colleges with our careers advisors, who are always available to offer advice and guidance. The programmes that we offer within school, and particularly within our Post 16, are designed to develop the skills that you will need to successfully move on to college. We also hold open evenings, and meetings with pupils and their families, to ensure that young people are fully prepared for the transition (move).

12.What help is there to get me ready to start work?

Through meetings we have in school our careers advisors will help you prepare for starting work. We can offer a wide range of qualifications from entry level to GCSE and AS level to ensure that you have the necessary qualifications and we have work experience programmes and qualifications to give you the experience to help you prepare.

We also work with the Connexions Service to support pupils in accessing workplaces within our local community.

Local Offer Age Bands
Young Adults (16 to 25)
Primary (5 to 11)
Secondary (11 to 16)
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