Oceans Rooms

The Ocean Rooms is a specialist facility provision for up to 8 pupils with a diagnosis of autism. All children within The Ocean Rooms have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

We have invested in our environment and have a sensory room, kitchen and open plan classroom. The pupils and staff have access to all the school facilities including regular weekly sessions in our onsite Forest School and specialist music and PE teaching.

In addition to teaching and learning in The Ocean Rooms, each child is part of a class in the mainstream school (in their chronological year group) and they access whole class teaching and learning alongside their peers, with support if needed. This is managed differently for each child and is based on their strengths, interests and next steps.

Admissions to The Ocean Rooms are managed through Education East Sussex and the assessment and planning team. Follow this link for more information about the East Sussex local offer East Sussex Local Offer.

Our curriculum...

The Ocean Rooms specialist facility provision opened to its first pupil at the start of November 2023. Currently, The Ocean Rooms supports children in KS1 however, this will change as the children move through the school. We are in the process of developing our curriculum offer within the facility to ensure that it:

· follows the children’s interests

· reflects our high expectations for all children

· builds on from the children’s individual starting points

· considers the 4 broad areas of need within the SEND code of practice (2015), and especially recognising the importance of children’s social, emotional and mental health needs

· is in line with our whole school curriculum intent

· offers a personalised approach and considers external service programmes such as those from speech and language and occupational therapy teams

· is in line with their EHCP outcomes and provisions

· is inclusive, ensuring all children within the facility have the same opportunities as their peers

· is in line with our whole school curriculum intent

Assessment

In The Ocean Rooms, we follow a graduated approach to support the children (assess, plan, do review). We do this through:

· Individual learning journeys with photos and observations of the children in the classroom and school environment

· Marking and feedback in line with the Teaching and Learning Policy

· Pre and Post assessments for interventions where appropriate

· Review meetings with parents and carers, both formal and informal

· Annual reviews

· Termly additional needs plans

· Thrive assessments

· Assessment using the Autism Education Trust progression framework where appropriate

· Sensory profiles

· Pupil and parent/carer feedback

· Use of P scales and pre key stage standard statements where appropriate ( See gov.uk for more information on these)