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
Learning and working together to achieve our potential
Empowering pupils, staff, families and partners
Celebrating diversity, equity and inclusion
Our Values
Equality, Respect, Excellence, Ambition, Nurture, Resilience and Integrity
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
