Falkland House School

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

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

Across the school the quality of attainment was very good.
HMIe/Care Commission 2007

There was a focus on building self esteem, developing values and respecting those around them.
HMIe/Care Commission 2007

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.
User Agency

You have all done a good job looking after me over the years. We’ve had some great times. Thank you for all the support and kindness.
Pupil

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.
Parent

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 enroll here earlier.
Parent

A special thank you to the education staff, ____ really enjoyed a lot of the classes and has learnt a lot from them.
Parent

I have seen the pupils from my authority develop a sense of trust in adults during their time in the school, which most of them lacked before attending Falkland House.
User Agency

Parents were well informed about their children’s progress through photographs, review meetings and telephone calls.
HMIe/Care Commission 2007

…strong sense of fairness and appreciation of individual needs.
HMIe/Care Commission 2007

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

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

Always feel my concerns are taken seriously and acted on. Also appreciate the time taken to feedback to me the outcomes.
Parent

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.
Parent

Staff are fantastic, with pupils and parents.
Parent

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

You can see the enjoyment and pride in the boys’ faces.
User Agency

The school placed a strong emphasis on supporting young people as individuals. Staff showed personal commitment towards their pupils.
HMIe/Care Commission 2007

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

Can we take this opportunity to thank all at FHS for their support and kindness in guiding ___ through his school years. You helped us as a family in a very special way. We won’t forget you.
Parent

Always feel that my son’s voice is heard, respected and acted on.
Parent

Contact between home and agencies - This is an area of outstanding service.
User Agency

Outreach - My son came back full of joy about what he had been doing.
Parent

I have sampled the school’s food on a number of occasions and it is excellent, both nutritious and tasty!
User Agency

We both left buzzing with enthusiasm about the school and the quality of the experience that your young people enjoy there.
Scottish Council for Independent Schools

It is said that the quality of a school’s ethos depends on its management. Openness and approachability are the hallmarks of the school’s management and all its staff.
User Agency

Well, it’s the end of another term and year and once again I want to say a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. It is a huge comfort for me to know that he is so well looked after when he is away from home.
Parent

You have helped us as a family in a very special way, we will not forget you, and thanks to all. We wish you continued success with all your pupils.
Parent

I have been most impressed with frequency of contact in relation to pupils I am involved with.
User Agency

Contact between the school and myself is excellent.
Parent

Accomodation

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.”