Hello and welcome to Hyndhead Special School website.

Here is some information about our school.

Hyndhead Special School moved from Michael Street to its current site on Barncraig Street in Buckhaven in 1983. Although a stand-alone special school we share a listed building, built in the Wemyss style, with Denbeath Primary School. We are part of the Levenmouth Academy Cluster of schools and nurseries. Our school community in common with our cluster celebrate equality, equity, inclusion and promote diversity across the school

Hyndhead is one of the five Special Schools in Fife.  We are a small special school for pupils with complex additional support needs. Our school has a positive, welcoming and nurturing ethos.  We can accommodate children and young people from age 3 -18. Composite classes are arranged according to age. Our school offers small group settings allowing for greater personalisation and choice within the curriculum, matched to the needs of the individual learners.

We have a total communication approach, using speech alongside Alternative and Augmentative Communication strategies (AACs), talker devices, Picture Exchange Communication systems (PECs), Signalong, Canaan Barrie on body sign system and eye gaze. Hand over hand techniques, and Objects of Reference are also used as appropriate. We use teaching approaches and strategies to support individual learning needs, these include sensory based curriculum and may incorporate the principles of the TEACCH approach, as appropriate for learners with autism

Our whole staff team are committed and enthusiastic in meeting the learning, care and health and wellbeing needs of all learners.  We plan for and support learning while ensuring that learner’s individual needs including health and personal care needs are supported and respected.

Parents and carers are integral to our planning and review processes. Good communication, sharing of information and discussion around learning is important to us.

We ensure learning is of appropriate pace and level; and has breadth, challenge and application, showing progression for individual learners.  We engage with our local community and facilities to maximise outdoor learning opportunities; this enhances and extends learning, ensures relevance and promotes application of learning in real-life contexts.

 Our Vision

At our school we provide our pupils with a nurturing learning environment that aims to meet their individual needs and prepare them for life after they leave school.

 

Our Values

Safe, Fun, Kind and Nurturing

 

Our Aims

To create a happy, safe, secure and stimulating learning and teaching environment

To treat everyone with respect and dignity and encourage inner happiness

To extend a warm welcome to everyone who learns, works and visits here

To empower everyone to be all that they can be and realise their dreams

To respect individuality

To promote communication, independence and active learning

To follow and share best practice

To have an holistic approach to learning and teaching

To promote excellence in teaching and earning

To raise aspirations and promote ambition

To meet the needs of our community

To achieve excellence in partnership working

To enable our children and young people to be:

successful learners, responsible citizens, confident individuals

and effective contributors