The North London Hospital School is an independent day school serving the Tier 4 adolescent in-patient CAMHS ward at Priory Hospital North London. All young people admitted to the adolescent ward are automatically admitted to our school. In December 2018, the School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
There are a total of 8 beds on the adolescent ward and the school is registered for students. The age range for our CAMHS ward is 11-18 years. The young people we support are admitted from a number of counties in London and the South East as well as farther afield. As a result, we liaise with a large number of local authorities and community professionals.
Young people are admitted to the ward with disorders including:
- Attachment disorder
- Depression
- Drug-induced psychosis
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Serious deliberate self-harm.
- Suicidal ideation
Admissions are a mixture of planned, acute crisis and transfers from other hospitals. Most of our young people are ‘informal’ but some are under section when they arrive and others undertake a mental health act assessment during their stay.
Twenty five hours of education are offered each week on the ward. During the day young people also attend a range of medical and therapeutic interventions.
Our aim is ‘Return to Learn’
Our young people require a programme that allows them to return to positive and effective learning in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Each young person has a personalised timetable for therapeutic, medical and school sessions. This is reviewed frequently, based on each young person’s specific needs.
As a young person moves closer towards discharge, it is typical for them to engage more fully in learning sessions and begin attending their home school on day or extended leave. Each young person is allocated a key tutor who will liaise with the schools/colleges to organise re-integration.
Schools/Colleges are invited to attend (Care Planning Approach) CPA meetings throughout the young person’s admission in order to facilitate better outcomes.
Where young people need to find an alternative school/college, our teachers support both students and their parents/carers through the process, including statutory appeal.
