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SEND

At Southampton Hospital School (SHS), every child is equally valued, belongs and is supported to succeed.

Through our school values of aspiration, resilience and compassion, which are embedded in our policies, practices and provision, we are committed to creating a fully inclusive, safe and nurturing environment in which all children have opportunities to flourish and achieve their highest potential.

We believe educational inclusion is about equity for all learners, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, background, attainment or individual challenges. Our approach is centred on ambitious, personalised Learning Pathways that recognise individual strengths, identify and remove barriers to learning, and enable meaningful participation and progress from each pupil’s starting point.

We are committed to providing every pupil, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with an ambitious, high-quality education and the resources, opportunities and support they need to become inquisitive, resilient learners and develop lifelong learning skills. We identify emerging and changing needs quickly and accurately, with high-quality inclusive teaching as our starting point, strengthened where necessary through reasonable adjustments, the graduated Assess–Plan–Do–Review cycle, specialist advice and close partnership working with pupils, families, health professionals and home schools.

We recognise that transitions into, within and beyond SHS are significant stages in each pupil’s educational journey. These are carefully planned and supported through personalised arrangements that reflect each pupil’s individual circumstances, needs and aspirations, in close collaboration with families and the wider professionals involved in their care and education. Learning Pathways and provision are systematically reviewed and skilfully adapted to ensure that SEND, medical needs, disadvantage or other barriers do not limit a pupil’s opportunities or aspirations.

We recognise that progress may be academic, developmental, communicative or related to engagement and wellbeing; whatever form it takes, it is purposeful, evidenced and focused on meaningful achievement and successful next steps for every child.

If your child has an EHCP, the funding for the plan will remain with their usual school. We will, however, discuss any appropriate support the school can offer whilst your child is with us. This may therefore mean that we cannot provide your child’s full 1:1 hours, although please remember that our class sizes are very small and much of our teaching is already delivered on a 1:1 basis. We will also risk assess carefully alongside medical staff to ensure that your child is always safe and happy. If you live locally, your school may offer to send your child’s 1:1 support to the Hospital School and this has proven to be very successful in terms of providing familiarity and continuity for your child whilst they are in a new setting. We would always welcome these members of staff into our school and would look forward to bringing them into our team for the length of your child’s stay.

We have two dedicated SENDCOs:

Katie Kempsey

katie.kempsey@southamptonhospitalschool.co.uk

 

Gayle Doulton

gayle.doulton@southamptonhospitalschool.co.uk

For more information about our inclusion offer, please click on the documents below:

SHS SEND Information Report November 2026 (1)

SEND Nutshell Document

A range of policies underpin our SEND offer, including:

  • Attendance Policy and Attendance Graduated Response
  • Accessibility Plan
  • Behaviour Policy
  • Children with Medical Needs Policy
  • Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
  • SEND Policy

Local Offer

For more information about services that support pupils and families in Southampton please follow the link to the local offer.
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/send-local-offer

 

Links with outside organisations

At Southampton Hospital School we work in a collaborative partnership with many different agencies. This means that a supportive plan can be developed to meet children’s needs both in and out of school. We will work with these agencies to make sure we are meeting all the needs surrounding children’s SEND needs and upon discharge from the Hospital we will share a full graduated approach with the child’s usual school in the form of an ‘assess, plan, do, review’ report.

Accessing our Classrooms

We will be delighted to welcome your children into our school, regardless of their medical condition, disability or level of mobility and communication needs. The Hospital School’s offer includes a combination of teaching at bedside or in one of our 4 classrooms within the hospital. These classrooms are situated in:

Bursledon House

Bursledon House has two classrooms, both are on ground level and children in wheelchairs, or with other mobility needs are fully included within all teaching sessions, unless medically unable to (this will be discussed with medical professionals within Bursledon House).

G3 Classroom

The classroom on ward G3 is a small classroom within the ward, fully equipped to be able to take a small number of children in wheelchairs or using mobility aids or medical equipment. Medical professionals will always be involved in ensuring access is suitable and fully risk assessed. In all classrooms we have equipment and furniture that allows for equal access for all young people. We ask that either a medical professional or yourself brings your child to school from their bed in the ward if possible. The floor is serviced by lifts if your child is in a ward on a different ward. If this is not possible, then please do request bedside teaching from our team.

Piam Brown Classroom

Piam Brown classroom is open to all children undergoing treatment for cancer and can facilitate the use of medical equipment necessary for this to continue whilst they are being taught. If children are in isolation in their rooms, we will follow the NHS infection control guidelines and provide education at the bedside.

Important links and websites for parents

Southampton’s SEND Local Offer website provides information on SEND support, services and opportunities for children and young people with send, aged 0-25 who live in Southampton. Their parents’ page provides information to support families through diagnosis and beyond.

For children living beyond Southampton we advise parents to refer to the Local Offer for their Local Authority, to seek details of provisions and support in that area.

There are multiple websites providing detailed information about particular aspects of special needs.  Click below for a list of some of the websites available to you for support.

Useful SEND Websites

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