September 2012
New state-of-the-art education, therapy and care facilities are now available at RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning as part of a major redevelopment.
Our newly built school boasts a range of specialist facilities including:
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purpose-built classrooms
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multi-sensory environments
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a large School Hall
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a Library
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an Art and Technology room
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a Music room
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a Sixth Form Centre
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movement and therapy rooms
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meeting and conference rooms.
There are excellent amenities for personal care and overhead tracking for hoists is provided. Corridors are wide and all areas are accessible to wheelchair users.
We aim to provide an uncluttered environment in which children and young people can develop their orientation and mobility skills. We also use environmental objects of reference and assistive technology to help children and young people with complex needs understand their surroundings.
Specialist facilities
Key stage classrooms
Our key stage classrooms offer versatile environments for young people with complex needs to learn and access the curriculum. Each classroom includes:
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Space for one-to-one and group activities, as well as physiotherapy and mobility equipment.
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An area which can also be used for quiet specialised teaching and support.
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Secure outdoor space with canopy and soft flooring.
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Separate storage areas, which are essential for maintaining a safe environment.
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Slow closing doors and hinge protectors.
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Accessible toilets and hygiene suites.
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Specialist seating, that is tailored to the needs of each student
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Specialist desks that are height adjustable to accommodate seats and wheelchairs.
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Facilities for light cleaning and handwashing.
Multi-sensory rooms
Our two multi-sensory rooms offer a calming atmosphere in which young people with complex needs can fully engage in their surroundings. The facilities include light and sound equipment, such as bubble tubes, a vibrating floor and a touch-activated light and sound board. By adding soft play equipment and tactile materials and resources, we can create bespoke multi sensory environments ideal for therapy, education, play and relaxation.
As well as lessons and therapy sessions for young people attending our school, our multi-sensory rooms are also used by babies and young children with additional needs who participate in our weekly Early Years Sensory Sessions.
School Hall
Our School Hall is a large multi-purpose space. It is used for daily assemblies and whole school activities such as summer fetes or concerts, as well as lessons such as physical education (PE).
Our School Hall can also be used to host external events, including conferences, productions, functions and receptions. For more information go to Venue hire at RNIB Pears Centre.
Library
Our library features resources in a variety of formats for both students and staff. These enable us to meet a range of communication needs and preferences. Resources include videos and books in standard print, large print, audio, tactile books, puppets and interactive book boxes full of story props to stimulate the senses.
Music Room
Our purpose-built Music Room is soundproofed with appropriate acoustics. It is used for music therapy as well as for the curriculum and has safe equipment storage.
Young people with complex needs respond extremely well to musical rhythms, beats and songs. They enjoy performing, composing and listening, not just individually but also within a group situation. Many young people attending RNIB Pears Centre have communication difficulties and music provides an excellent way for them to express thoughts and emotions, to access the curriculum, to develop their communication skills and to stimulate creative ideas.
ICT Room
A computer suite has been developed to assist young people access the curriculum through ICT (Information Communication Technology). It is equipped with specialist technology to enable young people with complex needs and sight problems to access information or mainstream technology as independently as possible.
Art and Technology Room
This specialist classroom provides a safe environment for young people to be creative. The room is suitably designed for young people to participate in Art and Craft, food technology lessons and to explore scientific phenomena.
The Art and Technology Room includes work space and sinks set at various heights and suitable floor coverings to help with sensory navigation. This room is suitable for storing art and craft materials. It has drying facilities for finished items and can house specialist equipment for specific art and craft work.
Sixth Form Centre
Our Sixth Form Centre is a large environment with a 'college feel', suitable for students aged 14 to 19 years to learn and develop in preparation for moving on to adult life. The Common Room enables students to socialise together and promotes independence. The Sixth Form Centre has its own toilet and hygiene areas and its own outdoor spaces, such as a 'polytunnel', which will be used for horticulture lessons.
Movement and therapy rooms
Our Movement Room provides opportunity for all young people (including wheelchair users) to develop their mobility and sensory processing skills.
Therapy rooms are usually used for one-to-one sessions. They provide a quiet environment where staff and young people can benefit from specialised therapeutic sessions.
Meeting and conference rooms
We offer several meeting and conference rooms within our school building and within the training and assessment suite. Our on-site catering team provide excellent hospitality for meetings, training, conferences and events.
Find out more about Venue hire at RNIB Pears Centre.
A programme of meetings, conferences and courses is on offer throughout the year. We can also provide bespoke training. For more information see Events and training at RNIB Pears Centre.
Impact of new space
Andy Moran, Head Teacher, said:
"I am delighted that children and young people with complex needs are now able to enjoy our new purpose-built school. It is a fantastic building with lots of exciting new facilities that we have not had access to before.
Chief among these is the School Hall which provides us with a wonderful amount of space to use for PE and for assemblies. I am very proud of our students who have adapted remarkably well to this large space and we all enjoy the sense of community it affords us to come together as a whole school."
Find out more
More information about our school is available at Education at RNIB Pears Centre. For more details about our redevelopment, go to Transforming RNIB Pears Centre.