Woodlands resource base

All places are funded and allocated by Slough Borough council. 

Woodlands     

Woodlands is our mainstream resource base for children in Reception to Year 6, offering 40 places for children whose needs relate primarily to cognition and learning, communication and interaction, or social, emotional and mental health. It is for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that names resource base provision, and it is staffed by a team with specialist training and experience.

What makes Woodlands distinctive is the balance it offers. Most children access the resource base for up to 50% of their day in an autism-friendly classroom environment, and spend the remainder of their day in mainstream classes alongside their peers.

In the base, children focus on the outcomes in their EHCP, accessing core learning that is tailored to their needs, with a particular emphasis on building attention skills and the foundations of maths and English. In mainstream, they follow the mainstream curriculum with a moderate level of adult support and adapted activities and work. This means our children benefit from specialist teaching and a calm, structured environment, while remaining fully part of everyday life at Priory.

How we support learning in Woodlands

Alongside a range of interventions delivered across the school by our staff, children in Woodlands access specialist approaches matched to their needs. These include Attention Autism ("bucket time") to build shared attention and engagement, communication boards and PECS to support communication, and TEACCH activities that promote independence. We also focus on emotional wellbeing and self-regulation through sensory circuits, the Zones of Regulation, and structured work on social understanding, friendship-building and coping with everyday situations. Our aim is for every child to grow in confidence, communication and independence throughout their time with us.

Who Woodlands is for

Woodlands is designed for children who can access an environment that is fully integrated with the mainstream, with the right support in place. Because places are limited and provision is specialist, the following criteria help us and the local authority consider whether Woodlands is the right setting for a child:

Communication — Children are able to communicate verbally, though they may need some help from communication aids. They still require support and programmes devised by a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT), and will have been seen by a speech therapist and provided with an action plan.

Social interaction and play — Children are motivated to relate to others, but may find social cues difficult (for example, waiting for a turn or responding during a gap in conversation). They can independently follow a familiar structured game (such as hide-and-seek) for a short period, and use imitation and role play of their peers to support their own play.

Flexibility — Children are able to tolerate small changes in routine with appropriate visual support.

Independence and integration — Children are able to work in small groups (of no more than ten pupils) without relying on 1:1 adult support, have the potential to cope in an environment fully integrated with the mainstream with appropriate support, and are able to spend at least 50% of their lesson time in a mainstream setting.

Health and self-care — Children can meet some of their self-help needs independently and can make their needs known in other areas. They respond consistently to a visual support system, are aware of their needs, and can make these needs known in an appropriate manner.

Joining Woodlands

Places in Woodlands are for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are allocated through the local authority. A place is arranged through the local authority's consultation process, when Woodlands resource base is named as the provision in a child's EHCP — it is not part of the usual school application route. If you feel Woodlands might be right for your child, the first step is to speak to your local authority's SEND team, and you are also very welcome to contact us to find out more or to arrange a visit.