Here in Guernsey, we pride ourselves on having three special schools for those pupils who require more support -
- Le Rondin - Primary age pupils with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and more profound and multiple disabilities.
- Le Murier - A special needs secondary catering for a wide variety of needs. There are three departments in the school, KS3 (Middle School 11yrs old - 14), KS4 (Senior School 14 - 16) and the Sensory and Communication Department (11 - 19).
- Les Voies - For children and young people aged 9-16 that experience Social, Emotional & Mental Health Difficulties
Le Rondin School & Centre
Le Rondin School & Centre is a special needs school for primary age children and is home to the Island's Child Development Centre.
Opened in Sept 2005, it kick started the reorganisation of special needs education in Guernsey, with the aim of reducing the number of special schools from three to two.
This reorganisation also created a centre for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, the Link Centre, which opened in 2009.
Le Rondin is at the forefront of special education provision and can cater for up to 150 primary age pupils with moderate and severe learning difficulties, along with more profound and multiple disabilities.
While the School has all the usual facilities you would expect to find in a mainstream primary school, the design and layout of the teaching spaces have been carefully considered, with input from staff, parents and pupils, to ensure the school is not only functional but also a fun and stimulating place to teach and learn. The three teaching wings feature distinctive stained glass windows to help children find their way around the building.
In addition, there are three special sensory rooms and a hydrotherapy pool creating a stimulating environment for children with a range of disabilities.
Wooden outdoor play equipment in both the infant and junior play areas is accessible to pupils in wheelchairs and two special sensory gardens enable pupils to continue their learning outside the classroom as well as inside. View on map.
Le Murier School
Le Murier special needs secondary school is co-located with a mainstream school, St Sampsons High. The two schools share a central block of facilities including a sports hall, six-lane swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, changing rooms and covered atrium, as well as outdoor grass and synthetic sports pitches.
Le Murier can accommodate up to 130 pupils with a range of learning difficulties between the ages of 11 and 16, although in some cases pupils may stay on until they are 19. Le Murier has its own entrance, headteacher, teaching and social facilities and identity.
Its co-location with St Sampson's High allows all pupils and staff from both schools to interact, share resources, expertise, teaching and learning strategies and best practice, as well as helping to break down preconceived ideas about the different types of disability and difficulty.
It also encourages pupils to live and work together in school and helps prepare them to play a full part in society and Island life. View on map.
Les Voies
Les Voies is a school for children and young people who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH).
The school opened in Sept 2013 and caters for up to 56 children, aged between 9-and-16-years-old. Placement at Les Voies is through formal assessment.
Pupils with SEMH cover a full range of ability and their behaviours present a barrier to mainstream learning.
Les Voies School is committed to offering all of our learners the best opportunities in life that will give them an advantage when they move into higher education and employment. We value student's opinions and have an ethos that promotes pupil voice and a sense of a positive, safe, vibrant school community.
At Les Voies we believe that success needs to be 'value led' and geared to what the pupils value and try to tailor our curriculum and lessons accordingly to promote positive engagement in learning. We believe all of our students should taste success from an early age and ensure all areas of study lead to accreditation. View on map.
A multi-agency team that specifically look at breaking down barriers meet on a weekly basis to discuss the SEMH needs of learners across the Bailiwick.
For more information about Special Educational Needs in Guernsey, go to: https://gov.gg/SEN