HOSPITAL TEACHING SERVICE

Teaching on the wards

The Cranbury College Hospital Teaching Service is a small team of two teachers and two HLTAs who teach children admitted to Dolphin and Lion wards of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Children who cannot attend school because of their medical needs have a legal right to a full-time education.

Meet our friendly team!

Gill Albone Lead Teacher	Louise Stockwell Teacher	Sharon Vandenberg HTLA
Cheryl Carvill HLTA	LYNNE WALSH ADMIN OFFICER	Charlotte Baggley Line Manager

What we do?

Children and young people of school age from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 13 are offered 1:1 teaching from the first day of their stay in hospital. Staff are trained to teach a wide range of subjects with the main focus of teaching on English, Mathematics, Art, Science and Reading. Staff are also trained to work with children and young people of all learning abilities including those with complex special needs. The team are trained to support children and young people with a wide range of mental health needs including eating disorders and self-harm. We work alongside parents and encourage their involvement in activities. Reading is a very important part of all our teaching; we are fortunate to be supported by Read For Good and Listening Books. We aim to give all pupils a new book to take home and audiobooks are used when children are unable to read due to medical conditions.

For long-stay and patients and those who are admitted on a regular basis, staff will create a personalised curriculum in liaison with the child's or young person's home school. Patients are provided with a wide range of excellent resources to engage them with learning, including iPads and laptops. We make links with home school and keep children and young people up to date with their own school work where possible. Our aim is that when the child or young person are well enough to return to school, they can do so without having fallen behind and without feeling anxious.

We work hard to make learning fun, so that children are happy and make good progress. Work is tailored to the child’s interests and ability.