What is the Manchester Hospital School?
Manchester Hospital School (MHS) provides vital education for children and young people who are unable to attend 
their usual school due to medical or mental health needs. The school operates across multiple sites, including The Leo Kelly School, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Galaxy House (a CAMHS Tier 4 unit), The Christie, Wythenshawe hospital and North Manchester General hospital.
As a community special school, Manchester Hospital School is nationally and internationally renowned for its excellence. It offers a diverse, research-informed curriculum designed to keep students engaged and learning, even while they navigate significant health challenges. The school not only teaches on-site education but also extends to teaching in the home, including the use of AV1 robots to facilitate virtual learning.
The students at Manchester Hospital School represent a wide range of ages, abilities, and medical conditions. Some face physical illnesses requiring prolonged hospital stays, while others are dealing with mental health challenges.
Manchester Hospital School’s curriculum focusses on providing a curriculum that develops practical skills and building confidence, while maintaining opportunities to engage with academic subjects, tailored to foster both personal and academic growth.
The Need for Skills’ Development
The school gives opportunities to develop emphasises practical skills such as cooking, gardening, sewing, and ICT, as well as fostering creativity through activities like outdoor learning and exploring the local community.
This approach ensures that every child leaves the hospital school having had the opportunity to develop academic knowledge and essential life skills. These skills help build resilience, independence, and self-confidence – qualities which are especially important for children facing medical or mental health challenges. The curriculum is designed with the understanding that success isn’t just measured by academic grades but also by the student’s ability to cope with real-life situations.
Why Kloodle is Ideal for MHS
Kloodle, a platform designed to capture and showcase skills’ development, is an ideal fit for MHS. Kloodle allows them to build a portfolio of skills which reflects their personal growth and achievements. The platform helps students document and present the range of experiences they’ve had, from participating in activities like cooking or outdoor learning to contributing in debates and other hands-on learning experiences.
One of Kloodle’s key features is its use of skills’ wheels, which offer a visual representation of a student’s development in specific areas. For example, there are individual skills’ wheels for personal development areas like DIY, exploring local communities, and outdoor learning. This structured approach not only helps students keep track of and reflect on their progress but also provides a valuable tool for future employers or educators to understand the breadth of a student’s skills and journey.
How Kloodle is Used
At MHS, Kloodle is used to tailor learning experiences to each student’s unique situation. The platform allows them to record and showcase the diverse range of skills they acquire. Teachers at the hospital school use Kloodle to set specific, personalised goals for each student, helping them document their experiences, whether they are learning to cook, participating in a work experience, or simply building personal resilience.
By using Kloodle, MHS can offer students tangible evidence of their skills and achievements. The platform also helps students transition into the next stage of their lives. At MHS, Kloodle is used to track the progress of the students giving evidence towards the curriculum goals, end points and personal development. It has been used to be part of the whole school monitoring cycle, as well as a tool to support students identifying their own progress and to celebrate successes.
Conclusion
Through its carefully designed curriculum and focus on personal development, the school ensures that students can continue learning and growing whilst overcoming medical and mental health challenges. The use of platforms like Kloodle helps these students build confidence and showcase their skills, ensuring they have the tools they need for life.
As a school which prioritises flexibility, creativity, and personalised learning, MHS demonstrates that education, it’s about helping every child reach their full potential, no matter the challenges they face.
If you would like a demo of Kloodle please book it here: https://calendly.com/kloodle/30min?back=1
Or, alternatively, contact me at neil@kloodle.com
