Growth
& community · November 2026
Our new School Prospectus is here
Our new School Prospectus is here. Read it online or download it as a PDF.
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A school as unique as its students
Not every child can manage in mainstream education. Nor does every child with a disability belong in a special-needs school. But every child deserves success, no matter their level of ability.
Haskel’s bespoke model bridges the gap between mainstream and special needs. We work innovatively to benefit the widest range of children aged 5-19, from our low-functioning registered users to those with lesser special educational needs who attend mainstream schools.
Haskel is more than just a school. It’s multiple schools within a school. One for every child.
“Haskel means intelligence. We believe in the unlimited intelligence of every single child — and we put no limits on how far they can go.”
Rabbi Avrohom Sugarman MBE, founder of Haskel School.
Pictured here receiving his MBE award for Services to Education and Children with Special Educational Needs.
November 2021
A two-fold operation
Full time
programme
Registered pupils attend a 9:00-4:00 school day at Haskel’s state-of-the-art, fully-equipped facilities, going into local mainstream schools daily, for assemblies and extra-curricular sessions.
The full, structured day in a nurturing environment educates and enriches, whilst the time spent in local schools fosters social inclusion, raises self-esteem and offers a rare sense of belonging.
Hover to hear what others say →
“Haskel serves a unique and vital need within the Gateshead community. They have a vision for the future, thinking out of the box and delivering five-star services to their users, to ensure every child achieves their best.”
Mr BC Dunner
Long Standing Supporter
Long Standing Supporter
Session-based
‘Parachute’ programme
Mainstream pupils from local schools or colleges who require extra support attend Haskel to supplement their needs in a therapeutic learning environment.
This add-on support takes the strain off mainstream schools, while keeping the burden on the special-education system to a minimum — all whilst ensuring pupils remain fully integrated.
Hover to hear what others say →
“Every school has pupils with serious educational or emotional difficulties. The school can’t practically provide them with the targeted learning or hand-holding they crave. Haskel’s parachute system ensures these boys have a place to go, to feel the support and warmth from a bespoke program lovingly crafted by a staff dedicated to champion their cause. They are still welcome for all parts of a mainstream education – and more importantly, the social inclusion – but their education, support and fulfillment is being satisfied in Haskel’s most capable hands.”
Rabbi N. Wolinsky
Principal, Gateshead Jewish Boarding School
Principal, Gateshead Jewish Boarding School
Our invincible vision
Approximately 80% of our budget comes from local authorities, through each child’s Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). However, we are still left with an annual shortfall.
Besides, the local authorities’ process for procuring an EHCP and placement in a special school is challenging.
Without a statement, government funding and therapy provisions are minimal. Standard coverage is a six-week block of therapy.
Short of a miracle, that won’t take a child far.
Our vision is that every pupil who can benefit from support is able to access top-tier specialist provision, to enable them to achieve their maximum potential.
We do not allow budgets to dictate how many words a child will read or how easily they can buy themselves a treat of chocolate on their own.
Haskel will never refuse a child therapy, activity or intervention simply because the child’s EHCP doesn’t cover it. The bulk of our therapy provision is brought in privately.
We aim to push the child further, supporting them all the way, with bespoke input over and above what would normally be provided by statutory services. Because we see their potential.
DonateHaskel hits home
“Haskel is innovative. On my visit, I was very impressed with the whole setup and what has been achieved by Rabbi Sugarman, his wife and all the staff. I noted the individual care given to a boy preparing for his bar mitzvah, which clearly needed much more time, attention and empathy. Haskel is meeting an identified need, with dedication and true loving kindness and is addressing significant challenges. I encourage others to join me in supporting this very valuable establishment.”
Barry Speker OBE
Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear
23
No. of current full-time Haskel pupils with mild to severe disabilities achieving meaningful learning outcomes everyday
63
No. of exceptionally dedicated staff at the beck and call of our full- and part-time pupils
6
No. of local Jewish schools/colleges using our parachute programme to help their pupils achieve social and academic success
2,000+
No. of schoolchildren enrolled locally who know they can benefit from supplementary academic or therapeutic support if needed
Local school.
National impact.
Students with an EHCP from other parts of the country, who wish to study in one of the many colleges in Gateshead, can do so thanks to Haskel’s existence.
Our nationally-approved school enables them to embrace the next phase of their mainstream education whilst having their extra needs fully supported, in an affordable, streamlined way.
Associated With
Happy pupils, happy parents
Quality Education
Collaborative effort
Subject leaders work alongside all teaching teams to create a curriculum appropriate to the needs of our pupils and ensure that we fulfil the requirements of a child’s Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).
Personalised teaching
Most core subjects are delivered 1:1, depending on pupils’ abilities and needs. Small class sizes enable teachers to support all children academically and emotionally.
Individualised plans
Every student has their own behavioural plan, with regular parent updates, meetings and personal weekly newsletters home.
Core skills
We reinforce core skills in English and Maths across the curriculum to empower pupils for everyday situations.
Extracurricular activities
We offer a range of activities and experiences, from candle making to petting farm, broadening pupils’ knowledge of the wider world.
Life skills
We promote life skills from an early age to help pupils towards independence and prepare them for a life beyond school.
An education worth emulating
Meet Chaim Shaul
When Chaim Shaul was born, something was amiss.
The extent of it wasn’t fully diagnosed until he was five, but at 18 months, he required surgery for craniosynostosis, a head condition. In the ensuing years, he endured intense physical therapy, locally and in Europe, for his very low muscle tone, to help him reach standard developmental milestones. And it worked wonders.
Still, when kindergarten came to a close, Chaim Shaul was very delayed. It was obvious that he’d need a full-time special school.
At Haskel, he developed beyond all expectations for his prognosis.
He has mastered all 3 stages of CVS vocabulary system, he is slowly but steadily learning through Chumash and he recently made a siyum on Parshas Mishpatim. He has completed Sefer Tehillim twice. He can read, write and communicate well and he has developed a broad range of life skills with support, including cooking, shopping, gardening. He has a budding social life, thanks to his daily inclusion in a mainstream school. And the highlight of his week is going to shul on Shabbos where he trills heartily with the Chazan.
His bar mitzvah was a culmination of Haskel’s unique approach and tireless efforts, especially his community of friends he considers himself tightly part of, who were there to celebrate his childhood of achievement. His success is due to the nurturing, empowering environment of Haskel and the total dedication of the team around him.
Haskel’s specialist support enables children to defy a disability diagnosis.
The social inclusion at Haskel is real. Experience it at Chaim Shaul’s Bar Mitzvah
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