Parklands Special School

Address:

Parklands Special School

27 Charlotte Street, Helensburgh, G84 7EZ

Contact:

Phone: 01436 673714

Fax: 01436 677864

Email:

About our School : Parklands opened in 1993, a purpose-built school for pupils with Complex Special Educational Needs. Since then the range of provision has been extended and the school now meets the needs of pupils from pre-5 to 19years with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders, complex and multiple disabilities and associated emotional and behavioural difficulties. When appropriate pupils have shared placements with mainstream pre-5, primary or secondary schools. In addition the school has social links with other local schools. Facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, music and movement room, home economics area and multi-sensory environment. There is a range of Apple computers and PCs and every class has at least one in the classroom and access to others. A large, bright main hall is used for PE and assemblies and is also the dining area. Outdoor facilities include a football pitch, a well equipped playground and a sensory garden. The school has its own kitchen and lunches are prepared by two catering staff. The school is well placed for access to local facilities and transport. The local swimming pool is used by certain classes as part of the PE programme. The town centre, only minutes away, provides opportunity for learning and practising personal and social skills such as road safety, shopping and using the library. In addition there is a school bus which enables pupils to access places of interest a little further a field for environmental and social studies. There is music specialist 1 day a week, a physiotherapist once a week and a speech and language therapist 3 sessions. A school nursing support worker visits daily to carry out specific duties. Parklands has a very good relationship with the local community. When pupils use local facilities they are very well received. The staffs are generally aware that the pupils are learning skills and are co-operative and supportive. Within school a number of local residents and senior pupils from local secondaries give voluntary help on a regular basis.