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Longwill
School History
Longwill School for the Deaf, previously known as Moseley
Road School for the Deaf, was first established in 1895 with
a class of 12 pupils
Miss Isabella Longwill was one
of the pioneers of special education for the deaf in the United
Kingdom and from 1898 - 1933 she was the school's headmistress.
In recognition of her outstanding service, the school was
opened on it's present site in 1963, bearing her name.
Longwill School of the Deaf is
situated on the Bell Hill campus, Northfield, with another
special school, Victoria School. They
were officially opened by Dr Cohen on 21st April 1964. (See
bottom of page for map.)
In September 1986, the school
was re-organised from all age to primary, providing for pupils
from the age of 2.5 years to 12 years.Most pupils transfer
to Braidwood, the Secondary School for the Deaf, in the September
following their eleventh birthday. Some transfer to Mary Hare
Grammar School or local resourced schools.
We aim to meet the needs of the
'mainstream' Deaf child - but also recognise that some Deaf
children have additional special needs.
Longwill children therefore, benefit
from a high level of input supplied by a wide range of professionals,
many of whom are not directly involved with the school.
A major aim of the school is the
development of self-esteem and independance through the experience
of success. When this is linked to the school's wide range
of curricular and extra-curricular activities, it ensures
that the children are given the opportunity of developing
their full potential.
There is a positive behavioural
policy and children are guided, through Circle-time, to make
and follow Golden Rules.
Self discipline and responsibility, through awareness of others,
is rewarded.
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School
Prospectus
Longwill School Mission Statement
Longwill has a strong commitment to realising and celebrating
the potential of our Deaf bilingual pupils. This underpins
our vision, plans and action to improve and develop learning.
Everyone in school has a sense of purpose, a passion for lifelong
learning and a responsibility for his/her own development.
Each child is viewed holistically and places a strong emphasis
on personalised learning.Each and
every member of the school is of equal worth. Tolerance, good
behaviour and respect are therefore crucial.
We want independent free thinkers, ready for 21st
century life, capable of embracing the technology of tomorrow,
who are adaptable, self reliant resourceful and tolerant of
change and who can contribute to the wider community.
Longwill is a bilingual, bicultural
learning environment, which strives to support and develop
the communication needs and abilities of its members so that
the pupils are equipped to function effectively within both
the Hearing and the Deaf world; proud of their heritage and
confident to move freely in whichever world they choose.
The underlying principles associated with sign bilingualism
are based on a linguistic and cultural minority view of deafness
and a social model of disability. This includes the following:
- Recognition of the language and culture of Deaf people
- Recognition of the value of linguistic and cultural pluralism
in society
- The goals of removal and oppression and empowerment of
deaf people
- Equality of opportunity regardless of language , ethnicity,
race, gender and disability
- The use of terms to describe deaf children, which reflect
linguistic and cultural preferences
In a Sign Bilingual approach, equal status and use is given
to both British Sign Language and English. The challenge for
many students is to achieve age appropriate skills in both
languages. In the case of children from minority ethnic groups
recognition of their home language is important.
The outcome of a sign bilingual education should be that
each deaf child attains levels of competence and proficiency
in BSL and English sufficient for their needs as a deaf child
and as an adult. The process through which this is achieved
should be the planned use of BSL and English before and throughout
schooling. Changes to structure and organisation are needed
for these to be achieved and implemented. These changes are
enshrined in a range of policies.
Longwill School Aims
Longwill School aims to:
- recognise and value the language of the deaf community
( British Sign Language, its status, heritage and culture)
- give BSL and English equal status and use both languages
to deliver the National Curriculum.
- provide the pupils with the opportunity to achieve age
appropriate skills in both languages. In the case of children
from minority ethnic groups recognition of their home language
is important.
- provide a safe and caring environment in which children
can learn.
- create a happy school by encouraging courtesy and consideration
for others
- provide a rich, varied and enjoyable learning environment
where children will be taught according to their age, ability,
state of development and the National Curriculum
- recognise and value people as individuals and seek to
develop their full potential irrespective of their gender,
race, beliefs, social background or abilities.
- help children to develop practical and social skills,
which will enable them to become independent in daily living.
- promote a close and active partnership between home and
school as the most effective way of realising these aims.
Admission
Arrangements
Our policy is to admit children whose preferred means of
communication is British Sign Language, and who require that
language in order to gain full access to the National Curriculum,
and to promote their personal and social development.
It is the school’s policy to:
- invite the child with his/her parents to visit the school
with, where appropriate, present teacher, or other professionals
- visit the child in his/ her present setting
- recommend that parents visit the full range of educational
provision for hearing impaired children in Birmingham before
offering the child a place here. In this way both the school
and the parents can be satisfied that the place offered,
is appropriate to the child’s individual needs.
The child’s placement is reviewed annually or earlier
as appropriate which gives all interested parties the opportunity
to consider the continued suitability of placement at Longwill.
If it is felt that a different placement is required, due
to the changing needs of the child, then further advice can
be sought to ensure that a more appropriate placement can
be found.
The child’s needs and his/her parents’ wishes
are at the forefront of all decisions regarding educational
placements.
Home/School
Partnership
At Longwill, we believe that children learn best when supported
by their family and community. We aim to work in partnership
with parents, to establish mutual understanding and respect
and to find ways in which
home and school can work together for the benefit of the child.
We aim to do this by:
- reporting to parents about the progress of their child
- informing parents about what is happening in school
- encouraging parents to become involved in the life of
theschool
- including parent(s) and child in the assessment process
- utilising parents' expertise as a resource
- promoting a shared understanding of our teaching and
learning philosophy
- offering support to parents to improve their communication
skills with the deaf
- supporting and valuing the contributions that parents
make to their child's education
- ensuring that parents feel welcome in school in order
to establish a good working relationship between parents,
teachers and children.
There are many occasions on which parents are invited to school
- Parents' Evenings, Annual Reviews of Statement, social events,
INSPIRE workshops, coffee mornings, school productions. Furthermorer,
we also operate an 'Open Door' policy, which means that parents
are welcome to visit school at any time. We ask only that you
contact us to arrange a mutually convenient time.
We put a high value on our work with parents and therefore if
you are unable to visit school for any reason, our Home Link
worker or your child's class teacher will be happy to make an
appointment to visit you at home.
Home/
School Transport
All children are taken to and from school each day in taxis
or minibuses, provided and paid for by the local Authority
and are accompanied by pupil-escorts.
Parents are requested to ensure that their child is ready
to leave home at the time arranged. We ask that, when the
transport arrives, the child is taken to the vehicle and handed
in to the care of the pupil escort and that someone is at
home to receive the child at the end of the school day.
If any change to the usual arrangements is necessary, such
as the need to pick up or drop the pupil at a different address,
school must be advised in good time. It is especially important
that, if a pupil is to be taken to a different address other
than normal, school receives sufficient notice and authority
from the parents to do so.The LEA will refuse such a request
if additional mileage costs are involved.
Please remember that this is not a taxi service.
If the homeward transport is delayed, for example by a breakdown,
we will do our best to notify parents as soon as possible
of the cause and the likely time of arrival.
Arrangements
for pupils on transfer to Secondary School
The majority of pupils leaving
Longwill, at the age of eleven, transfer to Braidwood , a
special school for deaf children of secondary age. Pupils
might also transfer to a main stream school which has a Hearing
Impaired Unit/ Resource Base attached to it. Parents can apply
for their child, to transfer to the Secondary School of their
choice and are strongly recommended to visit the schools which
they are considering. Parents are provided with ample opportunities
to discuss all the options and their implications before coming
to a decision.
Half
Termly Information Sheet
We will keep you informed of our
plans and activities through a monthly calendar and regular
newsletters and through this website. Your support is encouraged
by showing your child, that you are interested in their school
work and by sending in things that we can use in our displays
around school. We will inform you of the topics that the children
are doing, in more detail, in our regular newsletters. The
monthly calendar will keep you informed about trips, visits,
visitors and school events.
Longwill
Association
- What is Longwill Association? It is an association of
everyone who is interested in the success of Longwill-parents,
staff and friends of the school.
- What is it for? To improve the education of the children
of Longwill School.
- How does it do this? By raising funds, including regular
parental contributions to Longwill Association school fund.
By organising events both, fund raising and social. By promoting
links between home and school.
- What does it pay for? Here are a few examples:
- Buying and running the school minibus
- Buying vital equipment such as a new photocopier
- Subsidising educational visits
- Paying for all photographs taken in school and on educational
visits
- Paying for the creche for Parents' Evenings
The Association arranges a variety of activities including raffles,
social events throughout the year, starting with the Annual
General Meeting in October. These activities are organised by
a committee, which meets at least once a term. All parents are
automatically members and we value highly the active support
of the parents and carers in the work of the association.
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Curriculum
Our school is organised into three
departments:
- FOUNDATION
- Nursery For pre-school children aged from 2 years.
- Reception 4/5 year olds
- KEY STAGE 1 Year 1 5/6 year olds
- Year 2 6/7 year olds
- KEY STAGE 2 Year 3 7/8 year olds
- Year 4 8/9 year olds
- Year 5 9/10 year olds
Year 6 10/11 year olds
We provide a creative curriculum,
which prepares children for the unknown world of tomorrow.
It is thematically based and connected. It brims with exciting
challenges, which motivate children to ask questions and develop
a boundless curiosity!
Children in Longwill School are taught in accordance with
the Early Learning Goals, The National Curriculum and the
guidelines set out in the Birmingham Curriculum Statement.
We fully implement the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies.
These documents and the full details of the school's policies
and schemes of work can be seen and borrowed by arrangement
with the Headteacher. As British Sign Language is the preferred
means of communication for our children, sign language is
essential to the delivery of the curriculum. We also consider
that the acquisition of English is of great importance and
try to develop each child's skills in English to their fullest
extent. Our work is either subject based or organised through
a topic approach spanning two or more subjects, and includes
cross-curricular areas such as health education and environmental
studies. We believe that children learn best through first
hand experiences and try to provide these through a wide range
of activities including day visits and extended educational
experiences. Whatever approach is adopted full account is
taken of equal opportunities. Whole class, group and individual
teaching strategies are used with consideration given to the
pupils' varying abilities. Our work is carefully structured
so that each year the children's knowledge and skills are
reinforced and extended. Appropriate strategies are developed
for those children who have additional special educational
needs.
Special
Educational Needs
Many children have a special education
need at sometime during their school career. It may be physical
(eg. Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, visual), medical, a behavioural
or emotional problem, or a learning difficulty. We closely
adhere to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice,
and involve parents fully in managing their child's needs.
Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator keeps a register
of pupils who have any special needs, which may affect their
learning and or their care. Generally these children are taught
with their age group and may receive support from other professionals
such as physiotherapists, nurses, occupational therapists,
speech and language therapists, etc when necessary.
Homework
We appreciate that parents of deaf children spend a great
deal of time, in an evening, with their child. Parents have
agreed that the school should provide children with regular
homework. Staff will send home a timetable so that parents
know, on a daily basis, which subject is being covered that
night. 
It is our hope that parents encourage children to complete
this work with the minimum amount of support. In areas relating
to parents, the school is an exemplar of good practice and
positive role modelling, but there is no complacency, with
the school always open to suggestions and new ideas to further
enhance the parental partnership. OFSTED July 2001.
Sex
Education
As part of our School's Health Education Policy and as agreed
by Longwill Governors and Parents during 1994/5, a module
on Sex Education will be taught by a same gender teacher to
Year 5 and 6 children, normally before Easter. Parental consent
will be sought during the Autumn Term. Please arrange to come
in and discuss the programme with the Key Stage 2 teacher
or the Headteacher if you have any concerns and/or wish to
view the materials we use. Parents have a right to withdraw
their child from all or part of the sex education programme,
except that which is required as part of the National Curriculum
science. Please see the Headteacher if you wish to do so.
Religious
Education
RE is taught in accordance with the 1988 Education Act and
the local Authority's Agreed Syllabus. Collective Worship
Parents have a right to withdraw their child from the whole
or part of the programme of worship. Please see the Headteacher
if you wish to do so.
Sport
Sport forms an essential part of the school's curriculum.
Children are encouraged to take part in our physical activity
programmes which are organised in school time and as extra-curricular
activities, usually during lunch time.
Children have regular lessons
in gymnastics, games, dance, athletics and swimming. It is
vital that children have appropriate, safe and hygienic clothes
for physical activities. A list of clothing can be found on
a separate sheet at the back of this prospectus.
Longwill School continues to support
both area and national sporting competitions organised solely
for deaf children.
Signing
Classes
The school's provision for British Sign Language (BSL) is
very good, especially relating to the teaching of pupils,
their families, and the whole staff of the school. OFSTED
July 2001.
Signing Classes for families are run by our staff from Longwill
at The Birmingham Institute for the Deaf on Wednesday mornings.
Our Home/ School Liaison Teacher will contact you with further
details. Signing tuition is available for all parents and
we strongly encourage you to attend, as your child will most
certainly benefit from your signing skills.
The work done by our Family Team in developing communication
in sign language for families, supported by all staff, will
be enhanced with more focussed job roles and mentoring training
for staff working with families and pupils. We were given
a commendation for this vital work when we won the prestigious
Birmingham Learning and Achievement Award in July 2005.
This year we are planning to go for more awards celebrating
our work.
" Healthy Schools Standard
Literacy
Hour
Longwill has been running a Literacy
Hour in every class each day since September 1997.
 These
are structured for group reading and follow-up reading and
writing activities to raise literacy standards for Deaf Children.
We participate in many ways
to raise and improve standards of literacy.
Longwill has developed a reputation for excellence in this
field and we host many visitors - mainly those interested
in our Sign-Bilingual Policy and practise of literacy.
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Staff
and Contacts
Longwill School for the Deaf has 10 qualified experienced
teachers of the Deaf, 7 experienced and qualified special
schools assistants (English speaking) and 6 Deaf Adults (as
BSL-using role models and teachers).
All correspondence to the school
from this internet site and also general enquiries should
be addressed via the Head Teacher, Mrs Babs Day
| Headteacher |
Mrs Babs Day(Finance
and Admin, and Management) |
| Deputy Headteacher |
Mrs Alison Carter(Teaching & Learning,
KS2, ICT,SENCO, Child Protection, Assessment, NQT Induction) |
Teachers -
Phase Coordinators: |
|
| Foundation |
Suzanne Paulson |
| Key Stage 1 |
Liz Steed |
| Key Stage 2 |
Alison Carter |
Foundation
Teachers |
Suzanne Paulson (SMT,Audiology and R.E.)
|
| Key Stage 1 Teachers |
Alison Jackson
(SMT, Maths)
Liz Steed (SMT)
Sharon Poxon
Lucy
Carradine (Humanities) |
| Key Stage 2 Teachers |
Carol Hickman (SMT Science, PE) |
Secretary
Admin Assistant |
Caroline Gill
Nora Fleming |
Special School Assistants/
Nursery Nurses: |
|
|
Judith Gibbs
Louise Taggart
Tracy Truman
Manmohan Manku
Randip Merva Kaur
Rachel Berridge
Christopher Williamson
Rachel Clarke
Helena Cowdrill
Lesley Lee
Derrol Murphy
Lisa Curtis
|
Library
Teaching Assistant at KS1
Speech and Language Therapist Assistant
Home/School Link Officer
Deaf Teaching Assistant
at KS2
Deaf Teaching Assistant
at KS1
Deaf Teaching Assistant
at KS2
Teaching
Assistant at KS1
Deaf
Teaching Assistant at Foundation
Teaching
Assistant at KS2
Teaching Assistant working in Foundation
Teaching Assistant working in Foundation |
| Speech and Language Therapist |
Nicola D'Urso & Tracy Truman |
| Governors |
|
|
Robin Cayley
Emma Cook
Peter Angwin
Ruth Beer
Geraldine Evans
Jennifer Graham
Carol Hickman
Wendy Lawrence
Alison Leach
Alex McCorkindale
Anita Smith
Tony Richards
|
Chair, LA Rep
Vice Chair, Parent Rep
Community Rep
Community Rep
LA Rep
Parent Rep
Teaching Rep
Non-teaching Rep
Community Rep
LA Rep
Parent Rep
Community Rep
Vacancy for 2 Parent Reps
|
| Clerk |
Mrs C Gill |
| Longwill Association: |
|
John Evans
Lesley Lee
Suzanne Paulson |
Chair
Secretary
Treasurer |
School
Contact Information
Mrs Babs Day
Headteacher
Longwill Schoof for the Deaf
Bell Hill
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 1LD
Telephone & Minicom
0121 475 3923
Fax
0121 476 6362
Email: Babs.Day@longwill.bham.sch.uk
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School
Photos
  
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Click
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