Specialist Nurture Provision

Specialist Nurture Provision - The Pod

Our mission is to support children up to the age of 7 to develop emotional regulation strategies that will ultimately lead to a successful reintegration into a mainstream classroom. We do this by embracing the principles of Nurture. and meeting children where they are.

The Specialist Nurture Provision (SNP) is a class at Battle and Langton Church of England Primary School that follows an adapted therapeutic curriculum supporting pupils in engaging with their education, peers and wider community.

We call it The Pod.

The Pod is able to meet the needs of pupils that are finding the mainstream classroom challenging and support pupils at our school with interventions in learning and emotional wellbeing.

An agreement with the Local Authority has meant that we are able to offer time limited spaces to pupils from schools in our local community. This is through a school referral process. with decisions made by an independent panel.

It is important to note that parents cannot apply directly to The Pod and that applying to Battle and Langton for a mainstream placement does not give your child automatic access.

What is Nurture?

Nurture is a tried and tested way of relating to children that helps them develop vital social skills, confidence and self-esteem, and become ready to learn.

The nurturing approach to education offers a range of opportunities for children and young people to engage with missing early nurturing experiences, giving them the social and emotional skills to do well at school and with peers, and to develop their resilience and self-confidence. It encourages pupils to take pride in achieving - addressing the social and emotional needs that can hamper learning.

(Nurture UK)

The Learning Environment

The Pod is a self-contained building with a suite of rooms at Battle and Langton CEP. It has high handles and a secure door to the school grounds operated by a button with electric release. The main classroom area is fitted with a small kitchen area and pupil toilets. In addition, there is a separate office/quiet work room, disabled toilet, staff toilet, a withdrawal space and a small outside area.

What does support look like?

All children who are accepted for support are dual registered at Battle and Langton and their home school.. The child will then attend our SNP at Battle and Langton every day for at least one block of 13 school weeks. Towards the end of the block, the SNP will review provision and decide whether to continue with another block of 13 school weeks. The maximum number of blocks is three, or thirty-nine school weeks (a school year).

For the first two weeks of the initial block, a member of staff from the child's home school will visit the SNP to help support the settling in process. One afternoon a week, the child will return to their home school in order to maintain the link and improve chances of a successful reintegration. For the first two weeks a member of staff from the SNP will accompany the child, for the remainder of the child's placement it is expected that the home school provide support for the visits.

The SNP staff will work with the child both 1-1 and as part of a small group on identified needs, building towards a point where the child, the family and the home school staff are better informed of strategies that can help when the child feels dysregulated and behaves accordingly.

The SNP staff will also work on basic reading and maths skills with the child to support academic progress, but the main focus will be on supporting the emotional and social needs of the child.

What does a day look like?

Days are varied and often mould to fit the needs and interests of the children on the day. However the following are regular and often daily activities:

Phonics lessons: Children are taught either in groups or 1-1 the same phonics scheme as they would have in the mainstream school. This helps ensure they keep up with their learning to read.

Mastering Number lessons: Children are taught in small groups or 1-1 following the same scheme that our mainstream classes follow. This focuses on grasping the fundamentals of number work and enables them to not fall further behind peers.

Zones of Regulation sessions: Following the Zones of Regulation curriculum, children explore emotions they experience, what those emotions may feel or look like and what behaviour may be expected or unexpected (ok or not ok) when we experience these emotions.

Outdoor and indoor play: The children in the Pod have full access to our outdoor areas, including the forest school area. Children need plenty of time in the day to run, climb, dig, build and imagine as part of their nurture work

Individual target work: Staff will work 1-1 with a child to support progress towards a defined target if it is beyond the scope of other sessions

Which children does the Pod support?

It is essential that the child being referred meets the following criteria:

The child is chronologically in Key Stage 1 or Reception and struggling to manage in the mainstream classroom due to SEMH difficulties (Social, Emotional or Mental Health).
The child’s primary area of need is identified as SEMH or ASD (although additional needs in other areas can be acceptable)
The child’s parents or carers have consented to the referral and are able to transport the child to Battle and Langton.

It is essential that the referring school meets the following criteria:

Identified by the Local Authority as within the eligible radius (Currently these schools are: Chantry, Little Common, Staplecross, Staplehurst, Crowhurst, Catsfield, Ninfield, Bodiam, Etchingham, Seddlescomb and Northiam)
Followed advice from an Educational Psychologist or CLASS/TASS for at least 6 weeks and progress has been reviewed.
The school can demonstrate what support beyond Universal Provision has been provided, including costs.

How do we apply for a place in the POD?

We have two funded places for children from Battle and Langton Primary, and four places from other local schools. The decision as to whether a child is eligible for support in the Pod is made following a formal application and a panel meeting. The panel is made up of professionals including Headteachers from the local schools involved.

To apply for a place in the Pod, schools must return the following via secure email to senadmin@battlelangton.e-sussex.sch.uk

A completed Referral Form (click to download)
An Additional Needs Plan (with costings) or equivalent that has had at least two review cycles
A completed Boxall Profile if available
Any Child Development Clinic referrals or reports
Any diagnosis documentation

Please title all application emails SNP REFERRAL.

Please note that parents cannot apply directly to the Pod

What happens after we apply?

The referring school will receive confirmation of receipt of referral and notified of the date of the panel meeting where the case will be presented; the Headteacher or SENCO from the referring school will be invited to attend.

After the panel has met to make its decision, the referring school will hear the outcome within 3 days of the meeting. There is no right to appeal, but a discussion can be had with the SNP about the possibility of a re-referral.

What happens if the SNP is full?

If the SNP is full or the cohort is currently not suitable for the pupil, they will be added to the waiting list. The waiting list will be reviewed at every panel meeting and the referring school kept updated. While on the waiting list, a meeting will be held with the referring school to look at provision in place and SNP will suggest possible strategies to support the pupil while they wait for a place.

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