We have had lots of exciting developments over the last few months! The picture was taken today and really shows the progress the site has made over the last few months.
Numbers of requests for special school placement at Highfield Littleport are beginning to build. We have been steadily receiving paperwork from the Statutory Assessment and Resources Team. I have booked in the first batch of pre-admission review meetings in order to plan a smooth transition for our pupils.
After a rigorous recruitment process we have been successful in appointing an Assistant Head for Highfield Littleport. We are pleased to welcome Lyn Houghton into the post. Lyn has extensive SEN and Secondary experience and currently works within a leadership capacity at Highfield Ely. She will be an asset to the team. We are also in the process of securing teaching staff as requests for placements grow in numbers. The team will shortly be looking to recruit Teaching Assistants and Support Staff which will be advertised on the EPM website soon.
Lyn and myself have already been working extremely hard beginning to develop a mastery curriculum that will be highly differentiated to each individuals needs. Working closely with Scott Gaskins (Head of School at Littleport and East Cambridgeshire Academy) we are also planning opportunities for joint study for pupils whom it is appropriate for. We are also including elements of the SOLO Taxonomy, which classifies learning outcomes in order of complexity - thus encouraging self assured and independent learners and thinkers. Lyn has also been working tirelessly to forge links with nearby colleges to secure opportunities for vocational learning. This in conjunction with our shared Job Coach role working across Highfield Ely and Littleport sites means a variety of opportunities for our learners.
More recently I have been liaising with Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists gaining advice for the fitment of our specialist multi sensory and soft play rooms. I am pleased to say we have rooms designed to the highest specification, taking all needs into account and organising for these rooms to be fitted out ready for opening day. I have also been working on the fixtures and fittings for the new school. I have been exploring the possibility of the school having its own trampoline to deliver Rebound Therapy to our students with fully trained staff. I have been considering everything that we will need from specialist sensory equipment to clocks and bins!