NBS at Kenton

The NBS Kenton Provision caters for pupils who have long standing problems at mainstream schools due to anxiety/vulnerability, who are considered by CYPS, Educational Psychology or their home school to be unable to access mainstream education. 

The provision aims to provide a caring and nurturing environment for pupils at a particularly difficult time in their lives, whilst allowing them to continue with their education. There is a high level of staffing which enables this to happen. Emphasis is placed on bridging gaps in learning as many pupils have missed large amounts of education. 

The curriculum follows the National Curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4 with a range of option subjects offered to Key Stage 4 pupils. Pupils are entered for a range of qualifications including GCSE, Functional Skills, Entry Level, and the Arts Award. Bespoke curriculum packages, including alternative provisions, are also available. 

Pupils receive support from our Family Support Worker and Keyworkers within the school. They are also supported by a variety of external agencies including CYPS, Educational Psychology, Community Paediatrics and Health Visitors.  They also have the opportunity to access mentoring and counselling services from other providers. 

Pupils are well supported and well prepared for leaving school, working with our Trust's dedicated Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Transition Co-ordinator, Stefanie Wilson. As a result, the overwhelming majority of our pupils progress successfully to further education, training, or employment. 

Curriculum Overview

Pupils in Years 7-9 follow a curriculum that is closely matched to both the statutory demands of the National Curriculum and the academic needs of the individual. The following subjects are offered in Key Stage 3: English Language and Literature, Maths, Science, ICT, History, Geography, Art, RE, PSHE, PE, Design Technology and Music. Specialist intervention is offered in literacy and numeracy in order to support pupils to make the necessary progress and consolidate their learning.

Vocational Opportunities

Pupils are offered opportunities to visit a wide variety of workplaces and operations, including Kirkley Hall, Scotswood Garden and Ouseburn Farm. 

Curriculum Enrichment

The central feature of the Enrichment programme in Key Stage 3 is the school’s involvement in a Forest School project, in which pupils engage in outdoor learning on a twice-weekly basis. The sessions are designed to develop confidence and resilience though a hands-on learning experience in a woodland or natural setting.  

There are also regular opportunities to engage in sporting activities such as horse riding, indoor climbing, and e-sports.

Curriculum Overview

In addition to statutory courses in PE and PHSE, students in Years 10 and 11 study a core curriculum of English, Maths, Science and ICT, gaining accreditation at a variety of levels from Entry Level to GCSE in relation to the ability level of the individual. This is supplemented by a range of additional subjects, which are offered either within the core offer or as option subjects. The current subjects on offer are Additional Science, History, Art, Child Development, Health and Social Care, Music, Business Studies, i-media, Project Q, Environmental Studies, and Photography.

For pupils who are referred on medical grounds, a bespoke package of education is tailored around their individual needs. The hours of learning students are deemed well enough to access is agreed and reviewed by the medical referee each half term. 

Vocational Opportunities

A range of vocational providers also support our Key Stage 4 pupils, such as NACRO, Ouseburn Farm, NE1Can, Kirkley Hall and Newcastle United Foundation. They offer a variety of opportunities, such as helping students develop work-related skills, preparing job applications, conducting mock interviews and supporting individuals in finding part-time employment.

In Year 11, the main focus of the careers programme is supporting pupils in both achieving qualifications at the end of Key Stage 4 and in making the transition to the next stage of their education or employment training. We work closely with partner organisations such as Newcastle College to offer opportunities for pupils to experience what different education and training providers have to offer. We facilitate visits to open events, organise visits to a variety of sites and departments, and help to arrange interviews. We also support with dealing with the pressures of exam stress, offer a study skills and revision programme, and offer additional study opportunities in the lead up to the end of their Key Stage 4 studies.

Curriculum Enrichment

In Years 10 and 11, we aim to give pupils a broad and varied experience, which encompasses a wide range of social, artistic, cultural and sporting activities designed to enhance the classroom-based learning that we offer. We work closely with partners, including the Newcastle United Foundation, Stepney Bank Stables, the Hatton Gallery, Kirkley Hall, and Newcastle Climbing Centre to offer a range of programmes to develop the whole young person and provide opportunities to build the ‘cultural capital’ our pupils can draw upon. 

Below is more detailed information about each of our subjects.

Subject Information

The school terms and dates are consistent across Prosper Learning Trust and are comparable to other mainstream schools/academies.

The majority of pupils receive their entitlement to a minimum of 25 hours a week.

Some pupils have a more bespoke timetable and therefore receive less than the expected 25 hours; however, this is agreed with key medical professionals and the wider multidisciplinary team.

In the hospital provisions, each pupil has their own bespoke timetable that forms part of a wider structured day involving input from health colleagues.

A typical school day at our Kenton site consists of six periods and a fifteen minute tutorial session or assembly every morning.

All pupils are allocated to a class, which is appropriate for their age and/or ability. They have a form tutor and keyworker to ensure they are able to access the curriculum as fully as possible and engage in learning and school life.

The school day at our Kenton site is organised as follows:

Please note: On Friday there is no period 6 and school finishes at 2.10.

Pupils attending NBS at our Kenton site are encouraged to travel independently to school whenever this is appropriate. We encourage pupils to walk to school if they live within walking distance, and we provide bicycle racks for students who wishto cycle to school.

We have our own designated entrance gate which is on Drayton Road (just off Kenton Lane). Bus stops are close by, and Fawdon and Kingston Park metro stations are approximately a 25 minute walk to school. For Parents/Carers driving their pupils to and from school, pupils can be dropped off at our NBS entrance, which is accessed from the main Kenton School entrance on Kenton Lane, or they can be dropped off on Drayton Road.

Parents of students who have SEND or a medical need can make a request for transport support. It is the responsibility of parents to contact SEND transport to make this request, which can be done on the Newcastle City Council website:Newcastle City Council

NBS employ their own bus drivers and school transport can be provided for students attending placements at our Kenton AP provision under the following criteria:

• For students wishing to access NBS transport on school funded placements, home schools fund transport costs (this is discretionary)
• For students accessing the Kenton provision via the local inclusion panel, the LA will fund transport for students where this is deemed appropriate

Students using NBS school bus transport use designated pick-up points around their locality, but our most vulnerable students can be escorted to and from their home.

At our Kenton site students are expected to wear uniform at all times in school or when representing the school elsewhere. Uniform consists of:

• White school or plain polo shirt
• Black School sweatshirt (purchased via school reception)
• Black trousers
• Black shoes

We do have a supply of pre-owned school sweatshirts that can provided. Contact school reception or our family support worker Katy Laughton if you require help with school uniform.

In cases of extreme weather, the Head teacher will make a decision on uniform expectations and will share this with parents via school letter and text message.

Hair dyed in unnatural colours and extreme ear piercings are not permitted in school.

Students may wear a discreet nose stud but no other facial piercings.

Students will be asked to remove any jewellery deemed unsuitable/unsafe by the school.

Tattoos are not allowed in school. If students admitted have tattoos they must, where possible be appropriately covered at all times.

Parents are strongly advised that personal electronic equipment, mobile phones, jewellery, expensive watches and clothing and any other valuable items should be kept at home as the school cannot accept responsibility for their loss.

PE Kit

Students are expected to wear the following clothing for PE lessons.

• Suitable T shirt
• Sweatshirt/jumper
• Tracksuit bottoms or shorts
• Appropriate sports trainers

On the day when they have PE, students can wear these clothes all day.

If students are excused from PE (which must be explained in a note from parents) they must wear full school uniform.

If a pupil is taking part in a sporting activity on any day other than PE Day e.g. Sports Leaders, Enrichment, Rugbyworks etc. they must still attend school in full school uniform but can wear black joggers or tracksuit bottoms on that day and bring in a sports top to change into if they wish.

Pupils attending Forest School are allowed to wear suitable outdoor clothes.

Pupils attending all other NBS hospital sites are not expected to wear a school uniform, but are expected to be dressed appropriately during school sessions.

Apply for Free School Meals

Families who may be entitled to free school meals for their children but do not yet receive free school meals should complete the form on the Newcastle City Council website:

Free School Meals Form

Menus

Please see below the example menus for school meals on offer at the Kenton site:

School Meals Menu & Choices

Term Dates

Contacts 

• Anna Wilson, Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Andrea Lough, Assistant Headteacher
• Sophie Pellegrino, SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher

0191 6053559

admin@bridges.newcastle.sch.uk 

Newcastle Bridges School, Drayton Road, Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3RU