LVS Hassocks

Since 2022, Rachel Borland MA, brought up in the precincts of Hong Kong’s Cathedral where her father was dean and her mother worked as a primary school teacher. Attended schools there and in UK, followed by teacher training in Leicester before taking

For students with a primary diagnosis of autism and an EHCP. School does not support behavioural issues or escapees, due to its large site, but offers a weekly open day for parents of high-functioning autistic pupils, including those with anxiety,

All proceed to 16+ college courses including art, animal-care, woodwork, metalwork, ICT and computing. Haywards Heath, Merrist Wood, Nescot, Brinsbury and Brooklands colleges are popular. School involvement includes supporting a student to sustain

A flexible curriculum supports different learning styles, but all years 7, 8, 9 are offered core skills including science and art, and a rotation of drama, dance and music, as well as work-based learning. Years 10 and 11 focus closely on English and

A director of SEN moves between LVS Oxford and Hassocks. We heard a lot from parents about the tailor-made curriculum, and saw it in action, eg a student whose anxiety was increased in the classroom was allowed to work in the gardens during lesson

We visited the music room, a gothic-panelled space with guitars, drum kit and keyboards, and heard twanging as children practised for the Christmas Sharing performance to parents. The creative art room was popular and we witnessed a printing lesson

A lofty indoor sports hall, with conical roof, was raining shuttlecocks from a game of badminton when we visited. We heard it was used for ping-pong, dodge ball, mini basketball and boxing too. Outside, the 36 acres of grounds are used for

‘It’s a tough job for staff,’ admits the head, but she has made some staff changes to address this. ‘Every single person has been an upgrade,’ said a dad. All staff are trained in autism and undergo professional development, shared with other LVS

Wellbeing is central to the approach, supporting the extra physical, emotional and mental health needs which come with autism., ‘We know these students inside out - we know all the strategies we need to put in place,’ said the head. Children choose a

Small numbers of pupils give the school a family feel. Children call staff by their first names and are encouraged to chat openly with them over lunch. There’s a school council for pupil suggestions, and parents felt school listened to them. Uniform

All funded by EHCP.

No one-size-fits-all here. LVS Hassocks provides a tailor-made, flexible curriculum for individual needs, blended with confidence-boosting therapies. The school is small enough to nurture different learners, whether in the classroom or in the verdant