Starting Tuesday 18th April, Northumberland Recovery College are running online sessions for mothers who are experiencing similar challenges and struggles of being a parent.

Click here for more information.

All pupils are expected to wear the correct school uniform at all times.

Our school’s uniform:

– Black trousers, shorts or skirt

– White shirt or polo shirt

– Black shoes

– Waterproof coat

– Blue gingham dress (optional)

– Grey round neck sweatshirt or cardigan (Phase 1-4)

– Grey V-neck woolen jumper  or cardigan (Phase 5)

– Clip on tie (optional – Phase 5)

 

Our school’s PE uniform:

– Black shorts or jogging pants

– Heather Grey PE hoodie

– Heather Grey t-shirt

– Trainers

– Swimming costume and towel

 

Branded Cleaswell Hill School sweatshirts, jumpers, cardigans, polo shirts, ties, fleeces, bags and PE t-shirts are available via Emblematic online or at the Bedlington store. Non-branded polo shirts, shirts, jogging pants and shorts are also available via Emblematic online or at the Bedlington store, although other suppliers are available. Cleaswell Hill School branded items can also be ordered via the school office.

Please ensure that all items of uniform are labelled clearly with your child’s name.

Requests regarding second hand school uniform availability may be made throughout the year via the school office. Donations of unwanted second hand uniform may be made at the school office at any time.

Our uniform policy can be located under the policies section of our school website.

Wearing jewellery should be kept to a minimum (stud earrings, ring and watch) for reasons of health and safety and should be removed for physical activities.

Pupils may stay in school for midday lunch which is cooked on site every day. Pupils may bring their own packed lunch if they wish. Pupils who require special diets are catered for. Free School Meals are supplied and parents/carers wishing to enquire about their eligibility should contact the School Office. All dinner monies should be paid in advance via SchoolGrid. Water is always served with lunch and is readily available throughout the school day. Current cost for a two-course school meal is £2.30.

Wherever possible, medication should be given at home by parents.  If prescribed medicines are to be taken three or more times per day, parents should ask the prescribing doctor if the administration of the medication can occur outside normal school hours.  Generally, non-prescription over the counter medication (such as cold remedies, cough medicines, hay fever eye drops etc) will not be administered in school.  However, in some circumstances the school may consider administering certain medication and each request received by a parent to do so will be assessed individually.  An ‘Administration of Medication to Pupils – Agreement between Parents and School’ form’  will be required in all cases before any medication can be administered.

The parents have the principal duty to inform the school of their children’s medical conditions and to make a request for the Head to make arrangements for medication to be administered in school.  This can occur if the child:

• has been newly diagnosed
• is due to return after a long absence and has a chronic illness or long-term complaints, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or another condition
• is recovering from a short-term illness and is well enough to return to school whilst still receiving a course of antibiotics or other medication.
• has needs that have changed
• is due to attend a new school

Any requests to stop the administration of medication should be communicated to school by phone call to reception and followed up with an email to medication@chswebsite.live-website.com

You can find our current ‘Supporting Children with Medical Conditions’ Policy in the Key Information section of our website.

Many pupils travel to and from school on transport organised by the Local Authority. Staff are on duty to ensure that all pupils have safely embarked or disembarked from their school transport. Parents/carers transport some pupils. The school gates are opened at 8.45am and 2.55pm with transport arriving in staggered groups to ease congestion.

Parents can drive into school at 9.00am and 3.15pm.

A ‘No Smoking’ policy has been adopted within school grounds and must be adhered to by all staff, visitors, contractors, parents and carers.

School uses funds carefully to best support pupil learning experiences and activities. In accordance with the Education Reform Act (1988), Governing Bodies of schools may make charges for particular activities. On occasion, parents/carers may be asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of activities. No pupil will ever be excluded from participating if contributions are not forthcoming, although the viability of the activity may need to be reconsidered if insufficient contributions are forthcoming. Costs of staff participation are not included when calculating parent/carer contributions.

We encourage the community to make use of our facilities and have a lettings policy, complete with hire charges and conditions that are available on request.

On rare occasions, it may be necessary to close school without giving parents warning. It is important that we have at least two up to date emergency contact numbers.

In bad weather, you are advised to either ring the School or Transport Company. Any closure will be notified to Radio Newcastle and on the School and  Northumberland County Council website as soon as possible.

Admissions at Cleaswell Hill School

Cleaswell Hill School adheres to the admissions criteria for pupils as detailed within Northumberland Local Authority Admission Policy documents, and in accordance with the SEND Code of Practice (2014) and the Children and Families Act (2014).

All pupils admitted will have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or will be in the process of applying for one as part of an assessed place. The Local Authority will coordinate this plan and has a duty to request advice and information from Health and Social Care as well as Education as part of the statutory assessment process. The Local Authority must consult the child and the child’s parent/carers throughout the process of assessment and production of an EHCP. The outcomes included in the EHCP should be realistic and achievable and will be reviewed at the Annual Review meeting, which is normally held within school.

If a parent or a young person makes a request for a particular school, nursery or college in any of these groups, the Local Authority must then consult the setting and must name that setting in the child or young person’s EHC plan unless:

• The setting is unsuitable to the child or young person’s age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs; or
• The child or young person’s attendance at that setting would be:
• incompatible with the efficient education of others; or
• incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

If any of these conditions apply, the Local Authority is not required to name the requested setting in the EHC plan. If the setting is named in the child or young person’s EHC plan in Section I, that setting must then admit them.

Preliminary visits to school by prospective parents/carers are welcome and can be arranged through the school office.

 

Applications for a place at Cleaswell Hill School must be made through Northumberland County Council with the relevant SEND officer. This request is then taken to a panel of professionals who come to an agreement as to whether the pupil requires a specialist setting according to documentation given including the young person’s EHCP; and then where the most appropriate setting for the young person would be to have their needs met. The Local Authority will send papers to the target setting deemed appropriate, and will also always send papers to a setting where there is a parental preference named in accordance with the SEND Code of Practice.

 

The school responds only to the Local Authority directly, who will then inform parent/carers. 

We have excellent facilities in an inclusive building and grounds. Specialist resources on site include a Hydrotherapy Pool, sports facilities, wildlife area, allotment and sensory studios.

We use the latest technologies to teach and communicate with our pupils and adopt a Total Communication Approach using Voice Output Communication Aids, Makaton signing, symbols, objects of reference and on-body signs.

Our adapted minibuses and wheelchair accessible people carrier ensure that we make full use of community resources and educational visits.

Form – Administration of Medication to Pupils

Form – Healthcare Plan for a Pupil with Medical Needs

Form – Parental Consent

Form – Parental Request for Child to Carry and Self-administer Medicine

Form – Request for Leave of Absence During Term Time

Click here to view the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ document.

Click here to view the ‘Attendance Strategy’ document.

Click here to view the NHS advice.