ASD Centre

The Woodland Centre

We have spaces for 30 children with varying communication and interaction needs which cover speech, language and communication, social and additional learning differences.  The Centre consists of three classes: one mixed Early Years and Key Stage 1 class and two Key Stage 2 classes. Our admission number is two per year group at EYFS/KS1 and six per year group at KS2. 

Successful inclusion is a key aim and this takes different forms depending on the needs of the children. EYFS and KS1 children all join their mainstream buddy classes in the afternoons and follow their year group's curriculum for the foundation subjects. For KS2, the children join their buddy class for core or foundation subjects, depending on need, interest and skills. When they are not in their buddy class, they will access the differentiated curriculum in the Woodland Centre. There is a two-year rolling programme for KS2 due to the mixed age classes (Y3/4 and Y5/6). Click on the button for each class to see their termly curriculum overviews.

We aim to provide a safe and engaging learning space and a low stimulus environment. The provision gives children with a highly structured routine, with a higher level of adult support. The children access learning that is broadly within age-related expectations, with their EHCP provisions embedded in the daily classroom support and planned in to the curriculum, adapted to individual differences.

Frequently asked questions

Tours are held in September and October for the following school year cohort. Typically, our Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion or Head of Centre will lead the tour so you will have an opportunity to ask questions about the provision. The dates will go live before the end of the summer term. This will ensure you are able to see the provision before you have to have your parental preference in.

There are instances where Year R spaces are allocated later in the school year for the September due to the child only just receiving an EHCP. If this is the case, please do contact our school office to ask for a tour.

Parents and carers are invited to book on to the tours by contacting our office team on juniors@william-cobbett.surrey.sch.uk and infants@william-cobbett.surrey.sch.uk

Parents and carers should put in their preference with their Case Officer. The local authority will also give a view as to what might be the best type of placement to meet your child's needs and the provisions in Section F of their EHCP. Typically, parents and carers will be asked for their paretal preference in the Autumn term of your child's Year 2 (for Year 3) or as soon as possible before your child's Year R.

We will then receive a consultation for us to give a view on whether we feel we are the right provision for your child and can meet Section F of their EHCP.

As experienced professionals in SEND and Inclusion, we have a wealth of experience and expertise. After gathering as much evidence as possible, we may believe that we are not the right placement for your child to enable them to learn and thrive. This may be disappointing to hear but please know that we always have your child's best interests at heart and we will be able to support you to make suggestions on what other provisions might work best for your child.

Once the consultations have been completed, the local authority allocate the spaces. We do not have the ability to allocate spaces.

Please note that we are unable to review any documents from parents to give a view as to whether we feel our provision is right for your child. We can only do this through official consultations through the local authority SEN Admissions Team or Case Officer.

As our Specialist Centre is in in high demand, it is highly unlikely a space will become available during a school year or Key Stage. Our typical intake happens in Year R and Year 3, where we open up an additional 4 spaces. Please note that we will be unable to provide tours for in year transfers, unless we have a space available.

When children transfer to a Specialist Centre, the funding bands change. Typically, children would not receive 1:1 funding on top of their Centre placement, due to the high levels of support and specialist nature of the provision. If a child is requiring 1:1 support over and above the core offer of the Centre, we may consider that the placement is not the best one to meet the needs of the child.

Yes. That is the beauty and benefit of the Centre provision. Although we do not allocate a 'minimum' amount of time in mainstream, we would expect children to be able to access their buddy class for some of their lessons. We will do our best to allocate the level of support they need to ensure they get the most out of both the Centre and their mainstream class. This will be done on an individual basis.