Resource Base - Cherry
Welcome to Cherry Class
We are delighted to have opened our Resource Base this school year. The children in Cherry Class come from a wide range of backgrounds and are wonderful, enthusiastic learners.
Cherry Class is a Communication and Interaction Resource Base, supporting children with a diverse range of needs including speech, language and communication needs, ADHD, and Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Some of our children live locally while others travel from further afield by car or taxi.
Currently, we have one class of children aged 4–7 years old, and we are planning to expand in the next academic year.
Our Curriculum
Our Curriculum is bespoke to the children within our class. We believe that all children are entitled to a broad, balanced and meaningful curriculum which provides them with the skills and knowledge they need and which they engage highly with. Our curriculum is highly skills-based, supporting our children to flourish as they grow. We have been working closely with the Resource Bases within our EQUA Mead Trust to develop our curriculum.
Our curriculum is broken down into key skills and knowledge, which we teach in small, manageable steps that are appropriate to each individual learner. Alongside this, we ensure that the children are being supported to meet their own personal targets from their EHCP. Within our resource base, we provide our children with a rich sensory curriculum which is bespoke to each child and their sensory needs. This works alongside developing their social and emotional understanding, which is further supported through our Thrive approach.
Our curriculum is also designed to be creative, practical and engaging. Children regularly access arts and crafts activities that support fine motor skills, sensory regulation and expressive communication. We also provide Forest School sessions, offering outdoor learning experiences that build confidence, independence, problem-solving skills and natural communication. These opportunities allow children to learn in a multisensory, child-led environment that complements and enhances our classroom learning.
Teaching
We pride ourselves in providing our children with a bespoke teaching experience which best suits their needs and learning preferences. As a team, we go to great efforts to understand each individual learner and make sure we are responsive to each child’s needs. We enjoy working closely with our parents to tailor this experience together.
We strongly believe that building trusting, reliable and positive relationships is fundamental to children feeling safe, welcome and ready to learn. By creating a nurturing and predictable environment, we support our children to develop confidence, independence and emotional security, ensuring they are in the best place to engage with their learning.
We are a communication-friendly classroom, supporting our children through the use of Makaton, visuals and core boards. Most of our lessons are delivered through the Attention Autism approach, allowing our sessions to be fun and engaging for all.
Teaching Staff
Class Teacher and Resource Base Lead: Abi Southwell
Teaching Assistants: Mrs Hicks, Ms Elter, Miss Porter and Mrs Stevens
Lunchtime Support: Mrs Williams, Miss Agnes and Mrs Ede
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