Beyond the Classroom

Staffing

All staff at Falkland House School are recruited through rigorous and thorough selection processes.   The school accepts its responsibility as outlined in the Scottish Social Services ‘Code of Practice’ and National Care Standards as regulated by the Care Commission.  The school is registered as a school care accommodation service.

The school is committed to staff development and has an ongoing programme for all staff to attain standards as set by the SSSC within an agreed timescale.   In addition all teaching staff must have General Teaching Council registration.

All staff are encouraged to accept responsibility for individual learning as part of their continuous professional development and this currently ranges from attendance at one day seminars to Masters Degrees in Social Work.

As part of the school’s commitment to staff training recent in-service training has included:

• SCIS Child protection Procedures (in house)
• ADHD Presentation (presented by staff from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children)
• First Aid Course (presented by the British Red Cross)
• Crisis and Aggression Limitation Management (CALM Verification)
• Fire Awareness and Extinguisher Course (presented by Fife Fire and Rescue)
• Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate (presented by Elmwood College)
• Team Building (in house)
• Tourettes and Aspergers Syndrome (presented by Dr L Taylor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist)
• Drug and Alcohol Awareness (presented by the Drugs & Alcohol Project Levenmouth (DAPL)
• MDS training (Boots the Chemist)

Specific training with smaller groups and individuals:

• Supervision Training for Unit Seniors (presented by JP Consultancy)
• SVQ4 Training
• SVQ3 Training
• HNC Care
• Masters Degree in Social Work
• Registered Managers Award
• Attendance at SIRCC short courses

Recreation

Falkland House offers a wide range of extra curricular activities as part of the 24 hour curriculum. Whilst the pupils thoroughly enjoy the wide range of activities, they are underpinned by the knowledge that they enhance the opportunity for social interaction, achievement and mental wellbeing.  The extra curricular programme promotes pupils’ personal and social development, building independence, cooperation with others and raising self esteem as well as improving the physical and emotional health of all pupils.

As well as using  the excellent resources both within the school building and the grounds of Falkland Estate, pupils use a variety of resources around Fife and their home area.

Some activities, such as sailing, cookery and social and vocational skills, offer pupils extended opportunities to gain SQA certification in their spare time.

Quotes

 

Parents

"You are a truly remarkable team of people who do a job that really does make a difference to the quality of people’s lives – not just the children, but their families too. You have given ____ an amazing gift – the opportunity to have a remarkable future. Thank you"

"Next to my family, I can’t imagine anyone I would be more happy with to look after my son in my absence"

"- As for me I don’t know what I would have done without your support"

"Thanks to Falkland House School he will grow into a respectful, confident, and pleasant young man"

"I would like to thank the whole team at FHS, for all the support and encouragement over the past three years. I am grateful for the patience, understanding, commitment, and dedication which you have given."

"Every member of staff is dedicated to the wellbeing of the pupils"

"I would also like to thank you for all the support you have also given to me, as a parent, it has been encouraging to know I was always able to pick up the phone and speak to someone"

"I have felt really supported by the school - preparing my son for the “outside world”. This help has been invaluable especially due to his diagnosis of aspergers"

"The staff maintain regular contact with myself and all of the outside agencies involved with his care. This ensures a multi-disciplinary approach that ensures the highest level of care possible” My son is a confident, happy young man who is fulfilling his potential"

"My son has never liked school; his experience wasn’t a particularly positive one – UNTIL he went to FHS. We just wish we had the opportunity to enrol here earlier"

"He has been given opportunities to access experiences/activities which have been closed to him until now"

"He is receiving an education at FHS that far exceeds our expectations"

"His self esteem has rocketed"

"Thank you for all that outreach gives me at weekends and holiday periods"

"I am extremely proud of my son; he has surpassed all my expectations. He is doing fantastically well in the environment of FHS"

"Great attention is always paid to dental, optical, and medical needs"

"He is able to access education and is enjoying learning again – no mean feat"

 

Pupils

"Falkland House School is cool"

"I really like going on outreach because I get to do things I wouldn’t normally do"

"Staff are good at listening and help me when things are not going well"

"I feel safe here and know people care about me"

"The best thing about the school is the staff"

"This is the best school I have went to"

"The school is brilliant, I like everything about it especially the activities"

"The staff have really helped me when I said I wanted to get fit"

 

Inspection Agencies

"The school had established an extremely effective peer support system"
Care Commission 08

"The fabric of the school building, along with resources used by young people, continue to be in outstanding order"
Care Commission 08

"An example of best practice was the recently run Internet safety course – for all classes in the school"
Care Commission 08

"The young people were exceptionally well supported by staff to look at concerns and issues raised by their peers"
Care Commission 08

"The schools high level commitment to Child protection – exemplified by the exemplary training opportunities staff have in this area"
Care Commission 08

"Staffs knowledge and understanding was enhanced by the services very strong commitment to training"
Care Commission 08

"The positive ethos in the school with all staff teams working together provided an exceptional example of effective joint working"
Care Commission 08

"The school was making very good use of quality assurance systems"
Care Commission 08

"Supporting pupils to participate in recruitment extended further the wide ranging opportunities that pupils already have to participate in the schools decision making process"
Care Commission 09

"Observation of staff practice during the lunch hour, confirmed that pupils had an excellent rapport with staff"
Care Commission 09

"A pathways programme is in place for all young people who are looked after. Commendably the school was developing a similar pathways’ programme for all for all young people"
HMIe 09 

"The school has an exceptional commitment to health promotion"
Care Commission 2010 

"The coordinator for Through Care had developed exceptional links with colleges across Scotland and the north of England"
Care Commission 2010 

"In an example of outstanding practice, the Senior Management Team continued to promote an inclusive and transparent management approach. This ideal practice meant that pupil's ownership of the school was promoted"
Care Commission 2010 

"In conclusion, the schools commitment to the values and capacities of the curriculum for excellence meant that they made excellent use of their unique school environment to the benefit of all pupils"
Care Commission 2010 

"Health promotion and healthy eating were central to the schools way of working with pupils"
Care Commission 2010 

"Pupils supported by both care and education staff, who contribute to the cross curricular projects available, have outstanding opportunities to become responsible citizens and effective contributors"
Care Commission 2010 

"The school continues to provide exceptional experiences to its pupils. All pupils are encouraged by the highly motivated staff team to fulfil their potential. Outstanding support is provided to the dedicated staff team by the senior managers"
Care Commission 2010 

"The service had a first rate system in place for the administration of medication"
Care Commission 2010 

 

Social Workers

"The review also acknowledged the good working relationship that is being established between the school and _______ and how invaluable the outreach service and staff support is to helping ______ maintain good family relationships and positive home contact"
Reviewing officer

"Children are supported with sensitivity and respect and their views are always taken seriously"

"Always had regular input from staff and have found the keyworkers to be very helpful"

"Re sharing of information/emails – you have no idea what a joy it is to work with a school so committed to working within a "team" – not always my experience, believe me".

"I have been most impressed with frequency of contact in relation to pupils I am involved with"

OUTREACH – "reliable and enjoyable, a variety of activities are offered, with photographs for the family – makes this inclusive and provides positive memories"

"What a fantastic setting, excellent facilities, and all opportunities for young people to achieve their full potential. Pities there aren’t more places like this. "

"Good to see a school where the ethos is towards the boys positive future. Excellent facilities, very helpful staff"

"He continues to receive support and understanding with regard to his Autistic Spectrum Diagnosis. The knowledge and professionalism demonstrated by Falkland staff coupled with the nurturing and caring nature of the school ensures his needs are met in a holistic manner "

 

Educational Psychologists

"I have received many positive messages and phone calls from staff at Falkland House School over the course of the school year, telling me of _______ achievements. I am delighted that he is making such good use of the opportunities that attending Falkland House School gives him, not least his increasing academic achievement"

"Contact between home and agencies “This is an area of outstanding service"

"It is said that the quality of a schools ethos depends on its management. Openness and approachability are the hallmarks of the schools management and of its entire staff"

"The care with which the school assesses pupils ensures a very smooth and anxiety free transition for the pupil and lays the foundation for a successful placement"

"The school is outstanding in the sensitivity shown to meet each child’s needs and in the flexibility of the staff"

"I have seen the pupils from my authority develop a sense of trust in adults during their time in this school, which most of them lacked before attending FHS"  

"I have sampled the schools food on a number of occasions and it is excellent, both nutritious and tasty!"

"FHS has a strong Education Programme tailored to the needs of the individual child"

"Staff at FHS are very experienced at working with the children and to adjust their teaching to meet the needs of individual pupils"

"The school works well with all professionals ensuring a consistency of approach at school and at home"

"FHS offers a very caring and nurturing element offered through the keyworker system and the ability of the staff to work with challenging young people"

 

Others

"It would seem that the inspectors could clearly see the effort put in by everyone in the school to make Falkland House School the good school that it is"
Member Scottish Parliament

"I am also heartened to learn that pupils with a variety of problems can have these surmounted through your caring leadership and staff influence"
Councillor Fife Council

"I was delighted to see that you received such a positive report when I know that you will face many challenges with the boys that you look after. Many congratulations to all your staff"
Chair of Social Work and Health Committee, Fife Council

"I just wanted to say thank you for letting me see around the school. It was both a fascinating and heart warming experience. "
Member European Parliament

"We both left buzzing with enthusiasm about the school and the quality of the experience that your young people enjoy there."
SCIS

"I am writing to offer my congratulations upon the HMIe follow – through report for the school. You and your staff have clearly worked very hard during the past eighteen months and the pupils have obviously played their part in achieving the successful results. Please convey my best wishes to all concerned."
Member Scottish Parliament

"It was so lovely to come to school yesterday and talk to you and members of the staff as well as pupils. It is a very unique place indeed. Days like yesterday give me so much positive energy and show me how privileged I am really to be able to do the job I’m doing, get to know other people’s thought, worlds, lives and meet such lovely people as you."
PhD Student (Research)

Accommodation

Falkland House School is located close to the historic village of Falkland in Fife and is within easy travelling distance from most centres of population. We enjoy a very attractive setting within the idyllic Falkland Estate. Pupils are able to enjoy access to a vast outside recreational area.

There are three residential units within the school. Atholl and Fife units cater for the younger pupils and the Flat is a semi-independent unit for older pupils. All the residential facilities are regulated by the Care Commission.

All units function independently with their own dedicated staff team who strive to offer a safe, caring and nurturing environment. The ethos of each unit is homely, comfortable and relaxed. Pupils are positively encouraged to respect each other as individuals. Each unit operates a behaviour scheme where positive social skills are promoted, recognised and rewarded.

All units have their own lounges containing a wide range of reading material and traditional games. There is also a variety of computer consoles and games. Within each unit there is also either a kitchen or breakfast bar facilities.

Pupils’ bedrooms are modern and well equipped. Each has a study desk to enable pupils privacy to complete homework. All rooms also have a television and DVD player. Pupils are actively encouraged to personalise their rooms.

All units also have direct dial telephones for private outgoing and incoming calls.

Within the school there is a gym, a separate fitness suite with a variety of keep fit machines, a library with a variety of audio and reading materials and home cinema system and a computer suite with controlled filtered internet access.

The joint Care Commission and HMIe inspection reported “the quality of accommodation and facilities to be very good.”

"I was particularly impressed with your kitchen staff and their understanding of young people on the Autistic Spectrum and how they contribute to the effective management of their condition"
Local authority education Officer

"Fish and chips – great lunch for midweek – the crepes looked fantastic"
Tam Baillie – Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People