For students facing extended hospital stays, maintaining their education can be challenging. Hospital-based schools, like the Bancroft School at Voorhees Pediatric Facility (VPF), can help ensure that learning continues, no matter the circumstances. The Children’s Hospital Association recently highlighted this critical work in an article about hospital-based education featuring Bancroft.
The article explores how hospital schools bridge the gap between health care and learning, providing students with continuity in their education while they receive treatment. It highlights the collaboration between educators, medical teams, and families to create individualized learning plans that meet each child’s unique needs.
“Our team is dedicated to looking at the whole child to see what their abilities and strengths are and to build upon those to put the child in the most optimal position to succeed,” said Colleen Valentino, Principal of the Bancroft School at Voorhees Pediatric Facility, New Jersey. “We work together to give them the quality of life they truly deserve.”
The Bancroft School at Voorhees Pediatric Facility offers small class sizes and a highly individualized approach, ensuring each student receives the attention and support they need. Teachers customize lessons and community activities to meet not only academic goals but also to help students develop skills that will aid in their transition beyond the hospital setting and assist them in coping with their current medical interventions.
Emotional well-being is also a key focus of the school’s approach. Beyond academics, the program offers therapeutic and sensory-friendly activities to support students in their daily lives. One of the most beloved members of the team is Joye, the therapy dog, who brings comfort and smiles to students, helping to reduce stress and brighten their days.
The Bancroft School at VPF was recently recognized at Bancroft’s annual Breakfast of Champions Employee Awards ceremony this past December. They received the Team Excellence Award, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the students they support every day.
Read the full article here.
