At Fernwood Primary & Nursery School we have a Focused Provision (a specialist provision) called “The Lighthouse”. This is a teaching and learning provision for children with complex additional needs with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our purpose-built provision opened in October 2022 and serves our school community. The Lighthouse is a 10-place provision with 4 places allocated by the Local Authority SEND Team in liaison with school. This does not impact on our pupil numbers on roll.

The aim of The Lighthouse is to provide an inclusive education for our children with the greatest need. The emphasis is on academic steps of progress together with developing the children’s social and emotional needs, speech, language and communication needs and developing each child’s levels of independence.

Each child has an Individual Provision Plan (IPP) and some children may have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Each child receives and entitlement of the Lighthouse – its daily routines and structures within a Primary curriculum but also individualised learning to match each child’s needs.

The Lighthouse is led by Ms Morris and her team including 2 Level 4 Teaching Assistants with experience across a wide range of SEND strategies and practice. All members of the team working in The Lighthouse have a passion and understanding for the children in their care and see it as their role to be the children’s advocates.

We work in liaison with The Inclusive Education Services including the ASD Team and Educational Psychology as well as NHS services such as Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.

We continually review our provision to ensure we are implementing best practice in all areas of teaching and learning to deliver “Excellence For All”.