Residential Accommodation
The Main House and stable flats provide accommodation for 32 boys. There are 13 single rooms, 3 double rooms. It has a large communal lounge, TV room, games room and a further lounge on the top floor. It is at the hub of the Cruckton site and there is a regular programme of recreational activities both in the evenings and at weekends.
Elizabeth House is a 3 bedroom unit to accommodate mainly primary aged boys. There are three twin bedrooms and a risk assessment is undertaken when pupils are being chosen to share a room. The boys in this unit usually attend the Cruckton Junior School.
This beautiful converted Barn accommodates four boys in single bedrooms. The boys are in the age range 11-15 and this unit provides 52 week accommodation. The Barn is situated just off the main Cruckton campus in a quiet cul-de-sac in the village of Cruckton.
Woodlands Beech
There are 3 units in the Woodlands which are interconnected. Woodlands Beech has five single bedrooms which offer superior accommodation to boys aged 10-15 who require a quieter more focussed residential provision. The boys in Woodlands will from time to time participate in the recreational activities organised at the Main House but have the opportunity to participate in their own activity programme when they wish.
Woodlands Ash
Woodlands Ash has similar arrangements to Woodlands Beech and has five single bedrooms.
Woodlands Cedar
Again, this is similar to the two preceding entries and offers superior accommodation with six single bedrooms and a large play/games room.
Ivy House is situated adjacent to the sports hall at Cruckton. There are nine single bedrooms for boys who are normally in Year 10/11 at Cruckton Hall School. The emphasis here is ensuring that the Year 11 boys have a slightly different programme encouraging more mature independence skills preparing them for the next step in their life.
Belvidere house is situated in an estate in the middle of Shrewsbury. It provides four single bedroom accommodation for boys aged 11– 15. Currently, most of these boys need 52 week provision. The house is within walking distance of Shrewsbury town centre and enables boys to participate easily in community activities. All boys within this unit attend Cruckton Hall School.
Harlescott House – A Transitional Service
The Cruckton Hall Complex has recently developed a transitional service in response to frequent requests from referring authorities and families. Harlescott House and its sister services, Harlescott Lodge and Studio provide three distinct residential opportunities for older boys, aged 15-19, with the opportunity of a successful transition into local colleges, including additional support as required.
Harlescott offers support packages designed to enable residents to make significant progress towards achieving employment and home of their own.
Harlescott House, which opened in 2003, offers 9 single rooms for boys aged 15+. The majority of these boys attend local Further Education or Sixth form colleges within the Shrewsbury area. They are supported to do so by the residential staff and additional input is given by the Cruckton teaching staff as required. There is an independence unit within Harlescott House where one of the boys can practise living skills such as shopping and budgeting for leisure activities. Support can be given as required by care staff and boys can reintegrate to an educational programme within Harlescott House if this is required. Community recreational facilities are widely used by this student group.
On the same site there are two further buildings. The Lodge is a four bedroomed unit for boys who are assessed as being capable of further independence and are allowed to do so with a light touch care staff support. Boys in the Lodge are given a weekly budget to spend on food and activities and their diet and recreational programme is monitored by their designated key-worker.
Harlescott Studio is a two bedroomed bed sit accommodation for two boys who have progressed from the Lodge. These boys can live virtually independently from the main Harlescott site if required although the residential staff will keep a supervisory eye on issues such as budgeting, recreation, socialising and attendance at college.
Care Standards
Staff
Cruckton Hall’s commitment to excellence depends to a large extent on recruiting high-quality staff in all disciplines who work as a team to support the pupils.
Teaching staff combine qualified teaching status, subject specialism's and management skills with increasingly significant expertise in supporting young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Each member of staff has regular individual, professional supervision and a personal development plan. Cruckton supports a number of staff in relevant further and higher education courses.
The excellence of training and development activity and career prospects has led to a very low staff turnover.
Staff Qualifications
The school employs qualified and unqualified teachers who have relevant qualifications to their subject. The school also employs numerous care staff, 80% of which possess NVQ Level 3 and all Managers have attained NVQ Level 4.
Health and Safety
The school has a rigorous Health and Safety Policy in place. There are monthly Health and Safety meetings for staff with areas of responsibility across the school. The School council are briefed on the issues discussed and asked for agreement or opinion.
Health
Each boy at Cruckton Hall School has a health plan, whether or not they are a residential or day pupil, drawn up by our school nurse. The Main House has its own well equipped surgery.
Boys have annual eye checks and are also registered with the local dental practice. Where appropriate, parents may wish to retain their existing dentist.
Child Protection
The school has two Child Protection Liaison Officers and has a local policy available on request. Copies of the Shropshire Area Child Protection Committee procedures are maintained in each residential unit. Boys’ safety at Cruckton is paramount.
Behaviour
Many boys come to Cruckton Hall School exhibiting both difficult and challenging behaviour.
The structure and consistency of our approach combined with a nurturing environment has had a track record of shaping boys’ behaviour to more socially acceptable norms. Expectations of pupil behaviour are high. The basis of the approach is
- Self respect
- Respect for other boys and staff
- Courtesy
- Politeness
- Patience
- Tolerance
- Motivation to work
Boys will be encouraged and supported to meet as many of these headings as is possible.