Children’s Hospital Teaching
The Children’s Hospital section of Oxfordshire Hospital School encompasses teaching at the Children’s Hospital, Oxford, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Helen and Douglas House Hospice. Teachers and higher level teaching assistants work across these locations providing educational support to pupils in hospital. The role of education in the life of a pupil with medical needs is our foremost consideration.
Children’s Hospital Teaching Gallery
Who do we teach?
Children’s Hospital teaching staff teach pupils from Foundation to Key Stage 5 who are in-patients in hospital. Pupils are taught in purpose-built classrooms, on wards or in single rooms. Staff also support pupils on adult wards and the Paediatric Intensive Care and High Dependency Units. Much of the teaching is on a 1:1 basis and group work also take place whenever possible. Approximately half of the pupils live in Oxfordshire and others travel significant distances for their medical treatment.
What do we teach.
Our learning is child centred and we start with each individual pupil’s interests and motivations. Often, a pupil’s home school curriculum is the first choice for teaching and learning, but if it is unavailable, or not suitable, various strategies are used to promote engagement, teaching and learning. The Children’s Hospital curriculum, derived from the National Curriculum, is structured yet flexible, so staff can engage pupils and provide suitable personalised teaching and learning experiences. This is often used in combination with the home school curriculum for pupils who remain in hospital for more than several days. We regularly work with external partners, artists, musicians and colleagues from the museum service, who provide opportunities for enriched learning. We are also a registered examinations centre and pupils are able to take exams and controlled assessments whilst in hospital
Where do we teach?
The Children’s Hospital Teaching Service provides education for young people at the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Helen and Douglas House Hospice. The nature of the provision varies at each site depending on pupil need and the type of admission. Young people are taught at their bedside or in one of the classrooms at each location; each one is a welcoming space that is well equipped to meet a range of needs.
How do we support young people?
Primary Education
Oxfordshire Hospital School have an experienced team of teachers who specialise in EYFS and Primary education. All young people, including those with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties), are supported by staff throughout their admission and through regular contact with home schools, a personalised curriculum is quickly devised. Young people are provided with learning experiences to develop skills relevant to the National Curriculum, with a focus on phonics and basic number work being particularly prevalent in the EYFS and Key Stage 1. Lessons are carefully planned to include creative opportunities for young people to develop their skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening and numeracy. Values Education is embedded in the curriculum through 1:1 lessons and workshops. Through establishing excellent relationships with young people at the Children’s Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic and Helen & Douglas House lessons are adapted to engage each individual’s interests and educational needs.
In addition to the personalised provision at the Children’s Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic and Helen & Douglas House there are also many workshops that provide stimulating experiences in subjects such as Art, Food Technology, Music and PSD (Personal and Social Development). We often welcome professionals from the wider community to deliver workshops in the classrooms and on the wards. Inclusion is at the core of our provision and we are able to teach young people with a range of medical and educational needs. Young people will experience 1:1 tuition as well as group work; we believe that the maintenance and development of social skills is crucial to each individual’s well-being and transition back to their home school.
Secondary Education
Young people in Years 7 – 13 who are at the Children’s Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic or Helen & Douglas House have the opportunity to engage in a range of high quality learning experiences during their admission. Personalisation and inclusion are at the heart of the provision for all of our students, regardless of educational or medical need. We teach young people with a range of needs, including those with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties). Staff quickly establish excellent relationships with each young person, as well as with their home school, to ensure we are able to plan a bespoke curriculum that offers appropriate levels of support and challenge.
Staff specialise in national curriculum subjects and deliver lessons up to GCSE and A Level, as well as other accredited awards such as Functional Skills and AQA Unit Awards. Where appropriate, we provide personalised support with exam preparation and liaise with schools if young people need to take exams while in hospital. In addition to facilitating the planning information provided by home schools, staff regularly lead a range of workshops in subjects such as Art, Food Technology and PSHE. Values Education is also an important aspect of our approach at the Children’s Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic and Helen & Douglas House and this is embedded in the planning and delivery of our teaching activities. This provides young people with the opportunity to work in groups and to develop their social skills, which is an important part of each individual’s recovery and transition back to their home school.
