West Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre

At our Hollybush partnership takes pupils aged 3-11 years  with moderate to severe learning and or communication difficulties.  The aim of the partnership is to provide access to specialist on site teaching and access to mainstream for pupils who benefit from both forms of educational setting. Every pupil in the Hollybush SILC class has an inclusion timetable detailing when they access mainstream lessons. The amount of time pupils spend being taught alongside their mainstream peers varies according to the need of the pupil. All pupils access assemblies, playtimes and eat in the hall with all their mainstream peers. The SILC pupils all have a daily learning plan which is personalised to meet all academic, social and emotional needs in line with their EHCP. Pupils are encouraged to develop their independence and benefit from inclusion opportunities within the mainstream school. Some of our pupils have made such progress in the partnership that they are now expected to continue their time at the SILC in the High school Partnership.

The partnership aims to be mutually beneficial for pupils from both schools working together as one. Pupils are encouraged to have a shared sense of belonging to both the West SILC and Hollybush Primary school. Pupils are taught in the SILC base by a specialist SILC teacher and are supported in mainstream lessons by specialist SILC staff at all times. Mainstream Hollybush pupils also benefit from this, working together with our pupils and staff in the SILC base and mainstream classrooms. We are also well represented on the Hollybush school council.

SILC Pupils have had opportunities to take part in assemblies, special events and trips with their mainstream peers. In the SILC base we now offer access to specialist support for mainstream school staff. We work very closely with the school SENCO and Headteacher to ensure this partnership meets everyone needs. A member of the SILC staff team attends Hollybush weekly staff briefing to keep up to date on what’s happening in school.

To support SEN inclusion we run a weekly sing and sign session and PE session which are open to mainstream pupils to attend.

We have our own area within the schools garden for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers which all the pupils really enjoy.

Pupils at the SILC partnership also benefit from regular life skills trips to develop independence and confidence out in the community. They have access to the specialist facilities on the Milestone and Farnley site for developing physical skills, accessing swimming or rebound where appropriate.

Pink class at Hollybush have had a fun filled Spring term.  The students really embraced the heroes and villains theme and thought about heroes in the community.  Their newsletter is an exciting read.  Please see attached for more information.