Ensuring the education of every child who attends Blackpool Victoria Hospital is very important and all children who are admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital will receive education from at least their third day (in reality, it is usually before this if they are well enough to accommodate some education).
Regular attendees, for example, cystic fibrosis sufferers, will receive education from their first day.
There is a Qualified Teacher and a Support Assistant based at the hospital and education can be provided anytime between 8.30am and 12.00pm daily – either at the bedside or, if possible, in the recently opened classroom which has both a computer and printer.
The teacher at the hospital, Mrs Ann Lowe, will introduce herself to all children and their families and discuss education needs. She will often need to assess and plan an education package and will also provide records of all work completed; sending it in the form of a short report/record directly to their school following the discharge of any child.
Mrs Lowe has educated sick children for 22 years and is an expert in the field of assessing and implementing appropriate education within a very short period of time.
Education is provided for as long as the child is in hospital and is available to all children regardless of the Education Authority they belong to.
The teacher either provides her own education package, relevant to their academic ability and in accordance with National Curriculum guidelines or, in the case where the child has work with them from their own school, follows their own personal studies.
Often work will be obtained for the child from requests made by Mrs Lowe who liaises closely with all Blackpool schools and many schools outside of Blackpool.
For some students taking specialised GCSE studies then specialist staff from the HHES (Home and Hospital Education Service) based at the Speedwell Centre will either provide work or visit to support the teacher at the hospital.
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