Haughton School

Haughton Hub

at Hollinswood Primary School

Haughton Hub

at Old Park Primary School

Background Information

In addition to the provision on our main school site in Madeley we also have specialist hubs which cater for children with a primary need relating to communication and interaction. We manage the hubs in partnership with two local mainstream primary schools, Hollinswood Nursery and Primary School and Old Park Nursery and Primary School. Each hub is for a maximum of 8 children all of whom have an EHCP which outlines complex interaction and communication needs, which may include Autism and associated cognition and learning difficulties. The overarching aim of the hubs is to ensure that with intensive support the children can develop strategies to cope with the everyday sensory demands of a mainstream class so that they have every opportunity to be included with their mainstream peers and to achieve their full academic and personal potential. The mainstream teachers work in partnership with our specialist hub staff in order to ensure they are able to provide a learning environment and teaching approach which is adapted to meet the children’s specific needs.

Children who attend the hubs are officially on roll at Haughton School, however they wear the uniform of the mainstream school and are treated as part of the mainstream school community.  

Staffing

Children in the hub are taught by a specialist teacher and a minimum of 2 teaching assistants who are employed and managed by Haughton School, they are experienced in working with children with SEND and are trained in specialist approaches in working with children who have communication and interaction differences.

Learning Levels and Curriculum Needs

• Initially the children are taught within the specialist setting of the hub classroom. This provides an individual workroom (if needed), individual workstations and also the opportunity for small group work (if appropriate). The classroom also has a small kitchen attached to it and a playground.
• Children are supported to progress towards accessing mainstream sessions (building up to at least 50% of their time in school). Children start by accessing lessons which match their particular strengths and interests in order to give them the maximum opportunity to succeed and develop positive self-esteem and confidence. They are accompanied by a member of the hub class team.
• The curriculum is presented in a highly specialised and flexible way with opportunities for consolidation. Children’s sensory needs are addressed through a specialised and individual approaches.
• Children who attend the hub are likely to have a spiky profile but will have the cognitive ability to work towards age related expectations in some areas. The hubs are not suitable for children who have more severe learning difficulties.

Entry Criteria

• The child has an EHC Plan which indicates that Communication & Interaction needs are the primary need.
• If unmet needs exist within the child’s wider context, admission to a hub must be considered alongside other holistic, multi-agency interventions e.g. support from an Early Help and Support
• The provision is not suitable for children with a primary need of SEMH. If the child has behavioural needs relating to aggression/violence, provision will only be considered where this has been triggered by debilitating levels of anxiety associated with their specific Communication & Interaction needs. This needs to be supported by appropriate documentation such as:

• Individual Behaviour plan.
• Record of incidents including physical and verbal assaults.

• There needs to be clear, demonstrable evidence that all reasonable steps have been taken to meet the child’s C&I needs in their current setting as recommended in the SEN Guidance and their EHC Plan (graduated response).
• It is expected the school will have followed, monitored and adjusted as necessary, highly specialist interventions advised by multi-agency professionals for at least 2 terms.
• Evidence to indicate that with intensive support a child can develop strategies to cope with the everyday sensory demands of a mainstream class.
• The child does not use absconding as a typical response to anxiety.

Placement Review

The hub place is reviewed on an on-going basis (at least annually) in line with statutory requirements. The following circumstances would always lead to a placement review:

• If a child has progressed to such an extent, they could thrive in mainstream classroom on a full-time basis, with appropriate support
• Change of Key Stage
• If, after one year, the child is not making progress in being able to access the mainstream learning environment on a regular basis.
• If attendance drops below 80% an interim review will be required
• If a child or parent requests the view that a change of provision is needed.
• There is a consensus view that the priority need could be best met elsewhere
• The child’s behaviour is a threat to the health and safety of staff and/or other children