Introduction to Heathlands
Since 1975 Heathlands has been providing outstanding education for deaf children and young people. The school’s vision statement “Become the best you can be” is applied to all we do.
We set high expectations for pupils, encouraging each child to achieve academically, develop independence and to contribute positively in their communities. This requires a child centred and flexible approach so that individual needs are identified and supported. Pupils’ progress is carefully assessed and monitored from the learning journals used with youngest children through to tracking of KS4 students’ achievement of their GCSE target grades.
Heathlands is now a single site school for deaf pupils of all ages offering both day and weekly boarding provision. The school has two departments: Lower (including nursery – year 6), Upper (including year 7-11) with some flexibility between the departments ensuring that a curriculum and educational experience suited to each age range is offered. Running through both departments is an emphasis on Communication, Language and Literacy; the foundation stones for the effective education of deaf children. Our Teachers of the Deaf have specialist training in language development and incorporate this in lesson delivery whatever the subject. Specialist Speech and Language therapists will undertake assessments of pupils’ needs then design and deliver tailor made intervention programmes. This, combined with our attention to children’s audiological needs and our expertise in British Sign Language, is brought together in a Total Communication approach.
In addition to its school provision Heathlands has a specialist British Sign Language Training Centre opened in 2009 by Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham. We have state of the art training facilities and a committed staff team who offer a range of courses to the general public, schools and community groups achieving excellent results. Special classes are available every week to parents of deaf children.
We hope you enjoy looking through our website and that it conveys the friendly, supportive approach we have to ensuring excellence. However there is nothing like seeing the real thing! We warmly welcome parents and carers to visit by making an appointment with the school office. It will be our pleasure to discuss what Heathlands can offer and we look forward to meeting you.
Lesley Reeves Costi and Sarah Shields
Co-Headteachers