Percy Hedley Foundation

Foundation Schools

Percy Hedley Foundation Children's Services provide education for children aged 1-4 years,  3-11 years, 11-16 years, and for young people 16-19 years.

The Foundation also provides five day boarding with high quality care, and respite and independence training for pupils on a full or part time basis.  In each school, pupil populations - children with cerebral palsy, children with speech, language and communication difficulties - are taught separately until they reach 14 years of age. They are then taught in groups according to the type of accreditation being followed.

Following our recent merger with Northern Counties School, we have launched an exciting new education services for children with hearing impairment. Read more about Hearing Impairment Services ...

The Foundation also provides Family Support and Assessment Services and a School for Parents

Primary School

The primary school (3-11 years) is based at our Forest Hall site which has good facilities for class based and specialist teaching.  This accommodation includes a dining hall, gym, hydrotherapy pool, sensory integration room, library and staff training facilities.

Primary School Head Teacher:  Lynn Watson
Tel: (0191) 266 5491 / Email: l.watson@percyhedley.org.uk

Secondary School

The secondary school (11-16 years) is based at our Killingworth site.  The school has excellent facilities for specialist teaching and has a dining hall, gym, suites of therapy rooms, a learning resources centre and state of the art ICT provision.  This school provides the base for a specialist UK Online Centre which offers evening courses for disabled users.

Secondary School Head Teacher: Lynn Watson
Tel: (0191) 216 1811 / Email: l.watson@percyhedley.org.uk

Post-16 Education

Our Post 16 provision is built around the 14-19 curriculum with a discreet service for the 16-19 age group which is based mainly at our Killingworth site with part of the group on the Northern Counties Site. It has purpose built accommodation for up to 50 students; which includes its own teaching areas, kitchen, dining area and residential accommodation which is on the Northern Counties Site. The Post 16 programme offers very flexible courses which are matched to individual student's needs, abilities and future plans. Education and therapy are a key feature of the teaching with independence skills being taught, particularly via residential programmes which take place for a minimum of 20 nights for each student each year. Nationally recognised accreditation includes Entry Level and ASDAN packages; GCSE and A Level as well as lifeskills and communication led units. Students access work and adult life experiences and transition into adult services is planned with students and their families to aid a move into future provision.

ICT

The Percy Hedley Internet Computer Technology centre is based at our Killingworth site. It offers open access computer training for students at the school and in the community. Young disabled people are welcome to practice their computer skills and learn to use adaptive technology. Parents, carers and assistants can join courses to discover how to overcome barriers of access to the internet.

Northern Counties School

Northern Counties School is based in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne and provides education, therapy and care for children aged 3-19 years.

The school provides education for children who are deaf and have additional needs; children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and children with complex needs and medical difficulties. All children have communication difficulties and staff are highly trained in a wide range of approaches to maximise every child's ability to communicate effectively. It offers a specialised Total Communication approach for all children including both BSL and SSE signing approaches. All staff are trained to sign and also use speech, picture symbols, PECS and Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems including Voice Output Communication Aids.

The school provides specialist teaching and therapy within excellent facilities, and the individualised curriculum includes work experience, lifeskills and independence training which compliments the national curriculum. For children with the most complex difficulties, there is an individually designed therapy led multi-sensory programme. The school is available to children throughout the region, with a residential setting for students from further afield.

Northern Counties School Head Teacher: Judith James
Tel: (0191) 281 5821 / Email: j.james@percyhedley.org.uk
or visit the website at www.northern-counties-school.co.uk.