We want to work closely with you to help you and your child to enjoy learning, work hard, and develop independence. We pride ourselves in our high expectations, knowing where children are going and how to get them there. Our experienced and qualified team are hardworking, innovative and creative, and will always think outside the box to ensure that you and your families needs are met.
We want to work in partnership with you. We have an ‘open door’ policy and encourage our families to contact school whenever they have any questions or concerns. We always advise booking an appointment with our team to ensure that our staff are available to meet with you and assist you with your queries promptly and professionally.
Class Groupings
At Beckfoot Phoenix, our students are taught in classes based on age and need to support them in making as much progress as possible. Our classes are linked to bases: orange, purple, red, yellow, blue and green.
Each base has a team of teachers and teaching assistants who are trained appropriately to accommodate the range of medical needs within their class including; gastronomy, feeding, administration of medication and medical interventions. Staff may also be trained in moving and handling, team teach, NARS (pool safety training, and rebound from accredited providers.
Our facilities
At Beckfoot Phoenix, we are dedicated to providing sensory strategies that help children to regulate their emotions, enabling them to stay engaged in their learning environments.
By offering appropriate support, we aim to ensure that every child has the best opportunity to thrive in the classroom.
School nurse
Our School Nurse Caroline Kershaw liaises with families about any health issues in our school. Families will be invited into school for clinics with our nurse to ensure that we can work with you effectively and proactively to support your child with any health issues that may be affecting their education or progress.
Care Team (Medical)
The Care Team is dedicated to supporting every at the school, along with their families, every step of the way. Collaborating closely with classroom staff, they create and implement personalised care plans to meet each child’s unique needs. The team works hand in hand with the School Nursing Special Needs team to arrange important appointments including orthotics, physiotherapy, SALT (speech and language therapy), dentistry, immunisations, dietician consultations, pediatrician visits, optician check-ups, tooth brushing routines, referrals and toileting support.
Whether it’s administering medication or offering care when it’s needed, the Care Team are always ready with a friendly smile, providing constant support and help.
Our school cannot accept any medicines that have not been prescribed by a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
What medical advice can our teams provide
- Advice and input from therapy teams and orthotic teams
- Access from specialist services including visual impairment, hearing impairment, sleep clinics and behaviour support
- Access and advice from the wheelchair service
- Input from the pediatrician and dietician
- On-site clinics where appropriate
Parent/family support
There are a number of ways in which families can support Beckfoot Phoenix and our students. We want our families to understand their child’s life at our school and to feel like a part of our welcoming school community.
The staff at Beckfoot Phoenix are committed to offering our families with a multitude of opportunities to meet with other parents and to become involved in school life, this includes coffee mornings, fundraising events and parent meetings.
Parent meetings
Every year parents are asked to attend their child’s annual review meeting to discuss your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This meeting is vital meeting allows us to review your child’s placement and plan their learning for the next year. To aid this meeting and any other parent meetings, we can provide an interpreter where needed. Other parent meetings include:
- Parent afternoons, opportunity to come into school to meet your child’s class teacher to discuss their progress and any of your own concerns or queries.
- Support meetings offer and opportunity for families and school to discuss plans to support any improvements in behaviour, attendance, sleep or anything else you feel you need additional support with.
- Early help meetings – opportunity to discuss any external support your family and child may need.
- Clinics – our clinics are held by health professionals at school, this includes paediatricians, dieticians and speech therapists.
Friends of Phoenix Special School (FOPSS)
The Friends of Phoenix Special School Group is a group of parents, friends and staff who meet at our school regularly to support each other and organise fundraising events for our school.
Since the group was set up in 2010, they have raised thousands of pounds for the children in our school. Without the money received from their work we wouldn’t have access to our soft play room, sensory equipment, lighting and music in the hydrotherapy pool, or our school minibus. Past fundraising activities have included family discos, fairs, social evenings.