Specialist Resourced Provision - Holbrook Penguins
The Resourced Provision at Holbrook has 36 places for children with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), with Autistic Spectrum Condition as a primary area of educational need.
The Resourced Provision, known as Penguins, is located at the heart of the school in a dedicated area designed to meet the broad range of pupil needs. We have three classes, which allows us to meet the social, emotional, and learning needs of the pupils ranging from Year R to Year 6. Our facilities include a sensory room, three large teaching spaces, messy area, therapeutic communal space, quiet room, two accessible toilets and two secure outdoor gardens.
The calm, secure and nurturing environment is ideal for pupils to grow in confidence and provides pupils with the support and specialist teaching required to progress in all aspects of their learning and development. We are focussed on all aspects of our children’s development and we work hard to ensure the best possible outcomes for every child. We strive to make their learning experiences positive, fun, engaging, interactive and safe. We pride ourselves on the trusting and supportive relationships we have with our families and support them every step of the way in their child’s journey.
Penguins 1 is our Key Stage 1 class within the ASC Resourced Provision, supporting children in Year R, Year 1 and Year 2. It provides a low-arousal environment with a high staff-to-pupil ratio, designed to meet the individual needs of each child.
The classroom is spacious and includes a well-equipped sensory room. Penguins 1 also benefits from a secure, all-year-round outdoor garden, featuring a range of exciting outdoor equipment.
The adapted curriculum focuses on developing core skills for learning, including emotional resilience and regulation, concentration and attention, communication and interaction, and building independence for both learning and life.
Early number, phonics, and writing skills are part of the daily routine, alongside sensory circle time and other specialist approaches.
Children in Penguins 1 also make full use of the wider school facilities, including the kitchen, our fantastic library, and various outdoor spaces.
Penguins 2 is our Key Stage 2 class (Years 3–6) within the ASD Resourced Provision. It offers a smaller, structured environment similar to Penguins 1, but with the learning expectations of a semi-formalised curriculum.
The classroom includes individual workstations and a group-learning table, supporting the development of academic skills. Pupils access a broad, adapted curriculum covering Maths, Phonics, Reading, Writing, PSHE, and foundation subjects.
Opportunities are provided for children to practise communication and interaction skills and support the development of independence and essential life skills.
Children in Penguins 1 and 2 also enjoy themed curriculum days—immersive, interactive experiences designed to enrich their learning. Where appropriate, some pupils attend whole-school assemblies, special events, and take part in wider school life as fully as possible.
Penguins 3 is a mixed class ranging from Year 3 to Year 6. Children in Penguins 3 work in the Resourced Provision base in the morning for English and Maths. Speech and Language interventions are delivered by experienced staff who work closely with the Speech and Language therapists.
Pupils in the Penguins 3 are attached to a mainstream class and receive a balanced mix of specialist support in the Resourced Provision and mainstream teaching, allowing them to access the wider curriculum alongside their peers. Inclusion in mainstream lessons is especially prioritised when it links to trips or special events, helping to ensure that all pupils are fully involved in the broader life of the school.
For those who may find the larger classroom environment overwhelming at times, learning can continue back in the Penguins classroom with tailored adult support. Pupils in Penguins 3 are fully integrated into school life, participating in a wide range of activities such as Bikeability, swimming lessons, Sports Day, residential trips, school discos, assemblies, and whole-school fundraising events. They also take part in life skills sessions, including practical activities in our newly equipped kitchenette area of Penguins 3.