Kaimes School

On behalf of our school community, it is our pleasure to welcome you to our website. Kaimes School is located in the South East of The City of Edinburgh. Our school roll is 96 children and young people. All of our learners have a diagnosis of Autism while some of our learners also have other additional support needs.

Positive relationships with our families are a cornerstone of our whole school community. We recognise that parental involvement has a significant impact on securing better achievement and a sustained school performance.

The Kaimes Special School Association was set up in 1996, receiving recognition as a charity in May 1997. It supports the pupils of Kaimes Special School in Edinburgh , primarily in the areas of Outdoor Education, Residential Experiences, ICT, and Cultural Enrichment.

The KSSA supports those programmes at Kaimes whose aims are to increase self-confidence and self-reliance, to enhance self esteem, and to prepare for independent living on leaving school. KSSA supports horse riding for children with Autism as a component of the Outdoor Education Programme as well skiing.

In Kaimes School, we recognise the vital importance of maintaining strong partnership approaches to improve outcomes for our learners. Some of our young people find it difficult to engage in a traditional format of learning, and so we work closely with various partners to deliver a broad education with a range of opportunities for wider achievement.

Vision

Our vision is for Kaimes to be the best school for autistic learners in Scotland.

We do this by:

• Keeping children and young people at the centre of our decision making
• Working alongside a range of partners to provide exciting opportunities to improve outcomes for learners
• Engaging with critical research and innovative thinking in autism and education to ensure that staff are best skilled.
• Delivering high quality teaching and purposeful learning to raise attainment and achievement
• Creating a positive, inclusive and collaborative ethos where everyone feels valued and happy to come to Kaimes
• Celebrating each person for their uniqueness and achievements

We measure this through:

• Continuous self-evaluation and improvement
• Programme of robust quality assurance
• Improved attainment and achievement
• Regular consultation and engagement with all stakeholders
• Positive and sustained destinations

Our actions and improvements are guided by our core values:

Ambition

We have high expectations for each member of our Kaimes community. We want everyone to participate, develop and achieve.

Respect

We respect everyone for who they are. This builds feelings of trust, safety and wellbeing.

Teamwork

By utilising our individual skills and abilities, we work together and learn together so that every child or young person can succeed in life.

Independence

Our children and young people develop skills and confidence to allow them to be as independent as possible in life.