Provision
Oak Lodge caters for pupils with a wide range of additional needs that impact on their academic learning. These may include Autism; speech language and communication needs and moderate and specific learning difficulties.
Our class sizes are tailored to meet the needs of the pupils and are led by a class team, who are responsible for their pastoral care. Each class team comprising of a teacher/tutor and variable numbers of support staff, dependant on the wider needs of the group.
Our curriculum follows a hybrid model, incorporating both primary and secondary approaches tailored to best meet the needs of individual groups, please see our curriculum offer here.
Oak Lodge has four learning classrooms dedicated to supporting pupils who have more complex needs and these pupils benefit from interventions such as Makaton, Communication in Print, Attention Autism, and TEACCH approaches. They explore emotions through play, learning through experience, and develop key skills for life. The curriculum is designed to match the needs of the students, and where appropriate they regularly have access to subject specialist teachers.
The program provides a highly nurturing and therapeutic environment, with specialist staff and an emphasis on life skills. Each classroom has an additional small multifunctional room, providing space for therapies, sensory integration work, physio, quiet study, role play, and social games. Pupils have access to their own self-contained outside play and learning space, but can also join the main school playground at lunch and breaktimes should they choose to do so.
Higher functioning pupils with Autism-related diagnoses are taught within small groups by staff with specialist knowledge about the barriers to learning experienced by individuals with autism and how to enable them to be successful. We offer a rich, diverse, and inspiring curriculum, which not only develops academic and vocational learning but also helps to build the skills they will need to become independent in adult life. Pupils are encouraged to only view autism as a difference, and our aim is to enable them to develop a repertoire of strategies which will help them to become happy, healthy, and independent adults in the future.
Lessons are delivered using specialist ASC strategies to support executive function and are multi-sensory, incorporating a range of learning styles to meet pupil needs. The importance of communication is emphasised across the curriculum, and students are encouraged to vocalise their ideas and to speak confidently in a range of settings.
The program provides pupils a safe, structured, and supported environment with a high level of adult support and targeted intervention.
The importance of creating the correct sensory environment cannot be underestimated. In order to minimise sensory overload, pupils are taught in small groups in classrooms which are bright, clear, and well-organised. Children are encouraged to bring in their own sensory tools and have access to quiet working areas if they become dysregulated. Students are encouraged to use breakout rooms and outside spaces, as needed, in order to self-regulate. The approach combines reasonable adjustments and takes into account sensory needs in order to maximise participation and engagement, develop resilience, and support mental health.
Underpinning the academic curriculum remains the school vision of preparing every pupil for adult life, building skills, knowledge, resilience and confidence. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils will know more, remember more and be able to do more. As pupils progress personally, socially and academically they are encouraged to increase their levels of independence, become more organised and show increased self-confidence during their time at Oak Lodge School.