Highfield Setting
At the Highfield Setting we teach in 2 units; The Highfield Adolescent Unit and the Meadow Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. During term time, all young people are supported to continue learning; school structure is an important part of treatment here. As far as is possible, we aim to support each young person to access their school or college curriculum so that they feel prepared to return to education once discharged. Where this isn’t possible, we provide a bespoke curriculum underpinned by the National Curriculum. We understand the demands put on the young people during treatment but nonetheless strive to help them achieve the best educational outcomes. As a team, we have a strong collective knowledge of how mental health impacts upon a young person’s ability to learn and are well-equipped to support them.
The learning day runs from 10:00am to 3pm, Monday to Friday in term time. We offer a bespoke timetable to all young people who work with us because we understand that each young person is a unique learner. We offer a broad and rich curriculum from KS3 upwards. We also offer a number of engagement activities to complement each young person’s study. This offer currently includes gardening, driving theory, music, drama and therapeutic art. Young people may be taught individually, in pairs or in small groups. Pupils can achieve accreditation in a range of subjects and where a young person has already been entered for a public exam such as GCSEs or A Levels, they may sit them here.
Upon admission, all young people are allocated a tutor who will link with their school, college or training provider and together they will plan how best to support the young person with their learning at this time. We will request work to ensure that, where appropriate, pupils are following the same course of learning as their peers. The tutor will maintain contact with the pupil’s school, or college throughout the admission as well as linking with the clinical team supporting the young person. They will also link up with parents or carers and other professionals who are supporting their learning. As a young person approaches discharge, their tutor and case team will support them with their reintegration into their school, college or placement. We will support with visits before discharge so that they feel prepared. If a young person is not currently in education or training, our staff will help them to think about what they might like to do next and support them with any applications which may need to be completed.
The school at the Highfield Setting is staffed by an Assistant Head Teacher, a Lead Teacher, subject teachers and Higher Level Teaching Assistants. We have regular contact with external providers, both face to face and online, so that young people have access to a rich and varied learning experience.
