Evelina Hospital School wins a prestigious teaching award

Members of our Beach team presenting the Pearson National Teaching Award to the head teacher at Evelina Hospital School

Evelina Hospital School has been recognised by the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards for their work with dialysis patients on Beach ward during the pandemic.

Hospital staff are delighted that their nomination for the teaching staff at Evelina Hospital School has resulted in a Bronze award from the Pearson National Teaching Awards, recognising and celebrating excellence in education.

The dialysis team on Beach ward came together to nominate teaching staff for their dedication to dialysis patients who spend many hours in hospital away from their schools and homes. Teaching staff have always worked with dialysis patients to ensure that they keep up to date with their schoolwork and do not fall behind their peers but the COVID-19 pandemic has given them a new set of challenges.

Children and young people range from 4-17 years, and the days, and number of times a week they are on dialysis can vary. School staff work with dialysis nurses to adapt to the needs and physical wellbeing of each child. Being flexible at short notice is crucial when working with young people whose health can be unpredictable.

When they were unable to provide face-to-face lessons, teachers adapted to provide remote learning via online classrooms. They gave laptops, microphones and noise cancelling headphones to be used when on the ward, meaning all children and young people could take part in lessons.

Beverley Magowan, senior staff nurse, who led the award nomination, said: “The teachers have provided stability and consistency, working with our team to ensure they deliver education fully but also safely in order to help our patients reach their potential. If they hadn’t done such an outstanding job in the past year, these children and young people would have faltered.

“It has been wonderful to hear the children engaging so positively in education. You can often hear them laughing and one 6 year old shout "you’re on mute"! They have even managed to do PE remotely.

“Our teachers have been available in term time throughout the pandemic and it has been vital for the children and young people’s education as well as mental health and wellbeing. They have adapted teaching styles and supported the patients’ emotional wellbeing which has given structure to their day in an unpredictable world.”

When schools reopened teachers had infection control training to learn to safely teach within the hospital environment wearing full personal protection equipment.

Anne Hamilton, Head teacher said: “In these most uniquely challenging of times it is immensely rewarding and motivating for all of the staff here who each bring a unique skill set and expertise to teaching on wards and through our remote classrooms. We celebrated with a low-key award ceremony with some nice surprises for the children.”

Located within the hospital, the Outstanding Ofsted rated Evelina Hospital School is a Department of Education hospital special school funded by London Borough of Southwark.

Beach ward gives special thanks to teachers, Fiona, Christina, Shaun, Barthola, Doreen, Simona, Agron, Ben, Denise and Ray, for their incredible work.