Core Offer

The purpose of our core offer is the outline the entitlement for every pupil who attends Courtlands School. All pupils who attend Courtlands will have an Education, Health and Care plan which outlines the provision that we have to provide.  

Courtlands School is a community where: 

• Specialist practice, unconditional kindness and high aspirations deliver exceptional experiences for all pupils 

• Every member of our community is enabled to achieve their full potential 

• Collective high standards empower strong relationships, built through effective communication and consistently strong support. 

What makes us special: 

• We are a specialist provision who deliver a bespoke curriculum that is adapted to meet the individual needs of pupils. 

• We offer a range of interventions and therapies to support pupil progress in all areas. 

• We develop strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders and outside agencies in order to support pupils throughout their time at school and through periods of transition. 

• We work in a trauma informed manner ensuring clear expectations are in place while understanding the reasons for the challenges that are presented. 

• We understand that behaviour is a form of communication and aim to understand our pupil’s needs in order that we can meet them effectively. 

• We offer a communication rich environment influenced by best practice in the field of total communication. 

• We foster a curriculum which helps pupils grow in confidence, creativity and self-control. 

• We use restorative approaches in order to help pupils understand their place in the world and help them to develop the skills and mental agility they need to forge positive relationships, cope with conflict and rebuild friendships if problems arise. 

What we offer: 

• A school day from 9am to 3.10pm that provides a broad and balanced range of social, academic and personal development opportunities to stretch, challenge and engage students with a range of educational ability, aptitude, needs and areas of interest.  

• Pupils are taught in groups of between 6 to 10 based upon their learning needs, social interaction skills, age and EHCP needs. Each class has a teacher and a team of support staff with the ratio determined by school leadership. Pupils are not routinely supported at a 1:1 level. 

• We follow the EYFS curriculum for pupils in the Early Years.  

• A developmental curriculum which is open to personalisation aiming for independence.  

• Staff trained in de-escalation and specialist supportive strategies for students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs e.g. PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy), PRRR (Protect, Relate, Regulate, Repair), limit setting language, emotional attunement, therapeutic rapport.  

• A total communication approach, including consistent use of visuals throughout the school. 

• A transition package when joining Courtlands and when moving on to their next provision. 

• Small group teaching:  Maximum of 9 pupils per class with high levels of TA support. 

• 1:1 and small group intervention work from our PFST (Pupil and Family Support Team) e.g. 

• ELSA 

• Lego Therapy 

• Girl’s club 

• LOTC (Learning Outside The Classroom) 

• Termly reports and meetings to agree targets and discuss progress. 

• Weekly LOTC Outdoor learning opportunities 

• Individualised self-regulation plans based on a 5- point scale model 

• Robust Safeguarding systems and close liaison with external agencies and relevant stakeholders. 

• Bespoke PSHE and SRE learning opportunities which support pupil's individual needs. 

 

Engagement with external services who advise and support classes 

• Occupational Therapist 

• Speech and language Therapist 

• Play Therapist 

• Music Therapist 

• Educational Psychologist Team (LA)