The Meadows

Our Classroom

The Meadows has the same principles as The Willows classroom, it has been developed to provide an inclusive environment for our children to learn in. Children in The Meadows are in Key Stage Two and depending on their needs they spend varying amounts of time in The Meadows each day.  The children spend as much time as they can manage within their own year group classes and access The Meadows for specialised learning. The curriculum in The Meadows is child-centred and children are stimulated in an environment that has been specially developed to promote a love for learning, whilst developing a range of social and emotional skills.

The Meadows classroom is next door to The Willows classroom. There is a carpet area and interactive whiteboard, a large table in the centre of the room for guided learning and enhanced resources that the children use in 'play to learn' time.  Children access the shared outdoor space with The Willows, along with daily sessions in the sensory pod. They also have access to the bathroom in The Willows that has an adjustable changing bed and toilet. There are also separate toilets next to The Meadows that children can use.

Our Children

Our Staff

The Meadows is collaboratively run by Mrs Patrick, the year group teachers of the children who access it and two fantastic TAs; Miss Leggatt and Miss McGee.

Our Learning

In The Meadows each child's learning is tailored to their specific needs. We use the Autism Progression Framework which is a comprehensive, flexible tool designed to support education professionals in identifying learning priorities and measuring progress in areas which relate closely to autism differences: Social Understanding and Communication; Sensory Processing and Integration; Flexibility, Information Processing and Understanding. The document provides a framework for assessing the impact of these differences on our children's social, emotional, independence and learning needs and supports staff in planning to meet these needs. Below is a diagram of the 8 overarching areas of learning. Children also access learning within their own year groups class and work from their year group class is done within their time in The Meadows too.

Communication and Language

In The Meadows we have a range of communication and language styles. One of these styles is through visual symbols called 'widgits'. Around the room are lots of widgit labels and signs. See below an example of a widgit communication board.

Ms Mean from The Willows is trained in Makaton and she is teaching sign language to the other staff members. 

Learning in Action

Please take a look at the learning that has been happening in The Meadows!