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Waterloo School Blackpool

 
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Waterloo Nursery 

There are currently spaces available in the nursery. An application form can be downloaded Click Here. Please return it to Nursery as soon as possible to ensure a place for September, or call the school on (01253) 315370

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Written by Mr M Gray   

The Special Education Resource Facility (SERF)


The Special Education Resource Facility (SERF) at Waterloo Primary School is the longest established SERF in the area. The school now offers for the first time SERF places to children aged from three to eleven years old. This includes Assessment Places in the Nursery. alt

The unit is equipped to provide the best possible support for hearing impaired children, including children with difficulties additional to their deafness. The facility itself is built to the highest specification to provide optimum sound quality in the room. ICT features prominently in the provision and includes an interactive smartboard as well as computers and electronic auditory training equipment.

altWhat makes the unit unique is the provision of a full-time teacher of the deaf, the only one currently working in a Blackpool school. Signing communicators provide additional support for some children who require total communication to support their learning A speech and language therapist based in school works with the children on the development of their spoken language.

All the hearing impaired children spend at least part of their day in the mainstream classes and this includes nursery pupils. This better enables the children to achieve their full potential, which is the school's aim for all its pupils. We have sound field systems in every classroom to provide the very highest sound quality not only for hearing impaired but for hearing children also.

The Past :-

  • Waterloo SERF was the first to provide this revolutionary style of inclusive education in Blackpool.
  • The SERF has had over 25 years of successfully educating children with varying degrees of hearing impairment from Blackpool and the surrounding area.
  • Waterloo SERF has had praise and acclaim from visitors, OFSTED, HMI, employers and, of course, parents and children. 

We have had...

  • Children attending on a part time placement returning to their local school for afternoons.
  • Children who have attended the grammar school for the deaf.
  • Children who have moved on to local mainstream secondary schools and then successful further education and higher education.
  • Children who have passed entrance examinations for local independent schools.
  • Children who have played for the school sports teams.
  • Children with cochlear implants making exceptional progress.
  • Children achieving level 5 on KS2 SATs.
  • Children who have preformed music and drama in public.
  • Families who have moved to the area to ensure a place at Waterloo SERF.

The Present :-

 What additional support will your child receive in Waterloo SERF?

  • A teacher of the deaf.
  • A brand new suite of rooms equipped to the highest specification.
  • A place in a mainstream class. (all mainstream classes with soundfield systems)
  • Teachers and support assistants in every classroom who understand the particular needs of hearing impaired children.
  • Communication support for oral and/or sign.
  • Daily checks on all hearing aid equipment.
  • Access to the Speech and Language Therapist in school.
  • Opportunity to join after school clubs.
  • Opportunity to join the breakfast and after school clubs for care from 8:30am to 5:30pm including Nursery wrap around care.

The Future :-

As other schools begin to embrace the inclusive philosophy, what do we offer for the future.

  • Flexible approach to children with any degree of hearing loss.
  • Individual packages of support for children with additional difficulties.
  • Use of the latest ICT equipment to support learning.
  • Our own Nursery where your child's needs can be assessed, giving advantage of continuity of care during transition to infant school.
  • Expertise in habilitation of children with cochlear implants.
  • Enhanced acoustics in mainstream classroom.

Please use the links below to find the answers to the most commonly asked questions. If you have a question that is not answered here then please call Waterloo SERF on (01253) 315370 or alternatively "click here" to send us an Email.

What is a SERF?

What is a SERF?
SERF stands for Special Education Resource Facility. Within the mainstream school there are special facilities and, more importantly, special staff to cater for children with Special Educational Needs. Our SERF caters for children with hearing impairment.

What are these special facilities?

What are these special facilities? 
We have a purpose designed room which was completed in 2004. It is equipped and furnished to an extremely high standard. There are facilities for both large and small group work as well as individual teaching. As well as specialist teaching equipment there is also equipment for testing and balancing hearing aids.

What about staff?

What about staff?
The SERF is staffed by a trained and qualified specialist teacher of the deaf, assisted by Special Support Assistants. These staff also support the children when they spend time in their mainstream classes. All staff are trained in communication skills. Some have a BSL signing qualification to level 2 CACDP (Advancing Communication Between Deaf and Hearing People), and above.

Do the children spend all their time in the SERF?
Do the children spend all their time in the SERF?
Certainly not. Our philosophy is that the hearing impaired children are part of the main school. They spend a proportion of their time in the SERF receiving specialist teaching and individual help. The rest of the time they spend in a normal class where they are taught alongside hearing children.
Advantages of SERFs over schools for the deaf?

 What are the advantages of SERFs over schools for the deaf?
Hearing impaired children will grow up in a world where nearly everybody else can hear. We believe that being taught in a school which reflects this better prepares them for adult life. They grow up, play, learn and above all make friends with hearing children. School for the deaf may mean that your child will have a long distance to travel or will have to live away from home.

Advantages of SERFs over my local primary school?

What are the advantages of SERFs over my local primary school?
Local mainstream schools can offer some support for hearing impaired children through the advisory service (teachers of the deaf who visit schools to give help and advice but not to teach). What they cannot offer is the daily access to specialist teaching and equipment which a SERF provides. Neither do they have classroom teachers who are as skilled and experienced in the needs of hearing impaired children in the normal classroom situation as those at Waterloo School.

 

Who decides which children go to the SERF?

 Who decides which children go to the SERF?
Admissions to the SERF are controlled by the Local Education Authority and it is they who decide. Parents, will be consulted and have the right to express a preference as to which school you want your child to attend.

Can I look round the SERF ?

 Would I be allowed to look round the SERF to help me make up my mind?
Of course! Telephone the school on (01253) 315370 to make arrangements.

How can I find out more?

How can I find out more?
Easily. Phone the number above. Ask to speak to the Headteacher, Mr. Mark Gray or to the SERF teacher, Mrs. Jo Booth. They will be very pleased to help you.