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The LEAF @ Roughwood

Leading Endeavours for Aspirational Futures

Welcome to The LEAF@Roughwood, our Special Enhanced Provision (SEP) dedicated to nurturing and empowering children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly those with neurological differences such as Autism.

Our core purpose is to provide specialised support that enables children to thrive within our mainstream school environment, allowing them to stay within their local communities alongside siblings and peers. We believe that every child deserves to feel valued, successful, and happy and should be able to attend their local school.

What is The LEAF @ Roughwood?

The LEAF @ Roughwood is a dedicated building on site within Roughwood Primary School, offering enhanced support that goes beyond our typical educational provision. It is designed to improve the emotional well-being, learning opportunities, and social development of children most vulnerable to social and educational exclusion. By offering this enhanced resource, we aim to support children’s needs for earlier intervention within our mainstream setting, thereby improving long-term outcomes.

Who Benefits from The LEAF?

The provision is designed for children who are struggling within the mainstream classroom, including those with or without Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). We have observed that parents who initially sought specialist provision have opted for their children to remain in mainstream education due to the opening of The LEAF.

Our Dedicated Staff

The LEAF @ Roughwood is staffed by highly trained professionals with expertise in Autism. Our team typically includes an HLTA and two L3 EYFS Practitioners when supporting up to 10 children. Our SENCO supports the setting. We prioritise continuous professional development for our staff, providing weekly tailored meetings to upskill them in crucial areas such as individualised transitions, PECS, and trauma-informed approaches, ensuring they are equipped with the latest strategies to support our pupils effectively.

Working in Partnership with Parents

We believe that collaboration and communication between parents, educators, and healthcare professionals are essential for a child’s success. We encourage an active partnership through ongoing dialogue and regular meetings to share progress. Parents are formally notified when SEND support is provided and are involved in jointly agreeing on adjustments, interventions, and expected improvements for their child. Your input is vital in developing and implementing strategies to meet your child’s needs. We ensure parents have clear information about the impact of support and the next steps.

Impact and Monitoring

The LEAF@Roughwood has the potential to bring a range of positive impacts, including improved academic outcomes, a more inclusive school environment, and increased community understanding of autism. We aim for our pupils to be happy and successful in attending school daily, ultimately striving to “Help make life better” for everyone.

Our Approach to Support

The LEAF @ Roughwood employs a range of evidence-based strategies and individualised support to meet each child’s unique needs and challenges. Our approaches include:

Individualised transitions and timetables to provide predictability and comfort.
Communication support through methods like PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and Speech and Language Specialist support from Rotherham Traded Services (NHS), with an on-site Speech & Language Nurse.
Therapeutic interventions such as Intensive Interaction, Bucket Time, Therapeutic Play, and Sensory Programmes/Circuits
Emotional and behavioural regulation strategies, including a Trauma-Informed Approach, Zones of Regulation, and the Incredible 5-Point Scale. The setting hosts a training ELSA staff member.
Use of the AET Autism Progression Framework to guide development
Positive reinforcement to promote positive behaviour and social interactions.

Children’s time within The LEAF can be balanced with their time in the mainstream classroom, engaging in activities and learning opportunities linked to their needs. The duration of sessions is determined collaboratively by professionals and parents, adjusted based on the child’s progress, engagement, and well-being.

Our Inclusive Curriculum

The curriculum at The LEAF @ Roughwood is built around the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, where children develop skills across the 7 areas of learning. For children accessing from Key Stage 1, the curriculum is adapted to cater to individual targets and learning needs.

Key components of our curriculum include:

A topic-based approach mirrored in mainstream EYFS classrooms for meaningful learning
A sensory regulation curriculum designed to build pupils’ tolerance to sensory needs, removing barriers to accessing the mainstream environment. This tailored curriculum gradually exposes children to sensory triggers in a safe space
A crucial social skills curriculum covering four areas of social interaction: Recognising & Understanding Emotions, Communication Skills, Building & Maintaining Friendships, and Social Awareness & Manners

Leaf @ Roughwood News