Orchard
At Hethersett Woodside Primary and Nursery School, we are fortunate to have an Enhanced SEND Provision (ESP) called Orchard.
The classroom follows a continuous provision approach and the curriculum is structured similarly to the EYFS, with an emphasis on life skills and wider community visits. The classroom has access to cooking equipment and a sensory space called ‘The Cave’ and has disabled toilet access just outside of the classroom.
There are a wide range of interventions available to Orchard children, most of these are listed in the child’s EHCP. Interventions currently used are:
- Attention Autism
- SALT and VERVE therapy
- TACPAC
- Colourful semantics
- Read Write Inc group and 1:1 phonics
- Intensive interaction
- See and Learn Programme
This provision is for children already in our school that will benefit from bespoke provision. These children will normally be in receipt of an Education Health Plan (EHCP). Most children have significant communication needs alongside other learning difficulties. Children retain their place in their base class and may attend lessons or special sessions with them. Children in Orchard play outside with the whole school and attend assemblies and events which are able to be adapted for them. We continue to strive for excellence with our inclusive environment for all.
Interventions in Orchard
Attention Autism
Is a teaching approach we use daily in Orchard, It uses fun, highly visual, and motivating activities to help children:
- Focus for longer
- Take turns
- Engage with others
- Build early communication skills
SaLT
Speech and Language Therapy- The lead teacher works closely with different therapists, and together they create a personalised programme for each child. This programme is then used in school to support the child’s individual needs and progress. A member of Orchard will work on a child’s targets each day.
VERVE Therapy
This is an approach designed to help our children, especially those with autism or communication difficulties, improve attention, interaction, and early communication skills. It uses short, fun, and structured activities to encourage our children to focus, engage with others, and communicate in a supportive way.
TACPAC
This is a therapy that uses gentle touch, music, and rhythm that helps children relax, connect with others, improve attention, and develop early communication skills. It’s especially helpful for children with autism or communication difficulties.
Colourful semantics
This is an intervention that helps our children to build sentences and communicate clearly. It uses colours to show different parts of a sentence, like who, what, and where.
Read, Write Inc PhonicsÂ
This is something the whole school follows but in Orchard it is completed on a 1 to 1 basis. Children are taught letters, sounds, and how to blend them to read words and sentences. They are taught step by step and at their own pace.
Intensive Interaction
This is a therapy approach that helps our children, especially those with autism or communication difficulties, learn to connect and communicate with others. It uses play, gestures, sounds, and facial expressions to encourage our children to take turns, respond, and enjoy interacting in a natural and relaxed way.
