Earlsmead Primary School has established an Autism Resource Base for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Haringey Council has supported the creation of a new Autism Resource Base at Earlsmead Primary School in London. The provision includes two new classrooms, a kitchen where life skills can be taught, a soft play area, a sensory room, a space for outdoor play and a breakout room. The whole facility has been designed to support development of children with special educational needs.
The new soft play area at Earlsmead Primary School, photo courtesy of Haringey Council
The development is part of the council’s wider safety valve (SV) programme, which aims to provide an extra 118 places for children with SEND in mainstream schools. In fact, six schools across Haringey will accommodate a total of 125 SEND places as part of the programme.
The SV programme is in turn supported by the Department for Education (DfE), to help local areas balance their SEND budgets while providing inclusive education for all.
Earlsmead has a relatively high number of children with autism in mainstream classes and is the first school in the borough to implement changes through the SV programme.
Children requiring such additional support will continue to access 50% of the mainstream curriculum, ensuring meaningful interactions between students in both settings during lessons in PE maths and other subjects, as well as at playtimes. The level of interaction will depend on an individual child’s needs and readiness. The aim is to ensure that they know they belong to a class and have friendships across the school.
Bespoke timetables are tailored to each child’s needs, making it easier to implement the requirements outlined in their education, health and care plans (EHCPs).
Hina Shah, Headteacher at Earlsmead Primary School, says: ‘As an inclusive school, we were very keen to have the resource base as part of our offer. It was a way of enhancing the provision for children with autism who attend our school as well as providing additional places for children from across the borough.
‘I am proud of the invaluable, bespoke learning environment we have created in partnership with Haringey and it is wonderful to see children thriving – as their needs are met due to the design of the building and the dedicated work from the team. It is a joy to see the easy flow of children between the mainstream and the resource base and the whole school community, including parents and carers who are benefitting and learning a great deal as a result. It was always a bit daunting and challenging to be the first school to undertake this but on balance we are very glad that we did.’
Ann Graham, Director of Children Services and SV Programme Lead at Haringey Council, adds: ‘Visiting the new resource hub and seeing the provision come together has been truly wonderful. With the right environment and resources, our children with SEND will have the same opportunities to achieve their potential as their peers. The new Earlsmead hub is a valuable addition, and we are confident about the positive impact it will have on our children. We are incredibly proud and excited to witness their journey and see them thrive. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed and made this possible.’
Cllr Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families at Haringey Council, says: ‘Creating the right environment for our young people is essential for their development. Young people with SEND deserve the same opportunities as everyone else, regardless of their disabilities. We firmly believe this new hub will provide just that. We have witnessed the incredible benefits of integrating students with SEND into mainstream schools, seeing first-hand how it positively impacts their learning and development. This also enables schools to offer both specialist and mainstream provisions close to home.
‘Every room in this hub has been thoughtfully designed to serve a specific purpose and offer the necessary support, ensuring these young people can thrive. We are excited to embark on this journey with them and are confident that they will flourish in this environment.’
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