The Sunshine Centre ASD Resource Base at Jubilee Primary School
The Sunshine Centre is our specialist resource base focused on delivering a specific educational programme for children identified with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The Resource Base has 16 places for children with ASD from Nursery to year 6.
The Sunshine Centre has a team of experienced professionals that run the provision, Ms Zakir – The head of the Resource Base; Ms Theo, the ASD Lead teacher and Cha Chabrat and Mr Mottershead our two HLTA Autism Champions. They work alongside other professionals such as the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA); Speech and Language Therapist; Educational Psychologist; School Nursing; Lambeth Autism Advisory Service and Occupational Therapists, as well as the mainstream class teachers, to provide a tailored curriculum to meet the individual needs of our children. We believe all children with ASD are unique and require an adapted curriculum to suit their needs and to develop the ‘whole child’ against the academic and wider curricula. Children work in a small group with adult support and are encouraged to work with different adults to help them gain independence.
Children access the mainstream environment with adult support and work alongside their mainstream peers. Children are assessed using a ‘small steps’ approach which demonstrates their progress in clear and precise stages; this allows progress to be tracked in small increments and targets to be set according to individual needs. Children work in a structured and ASD-friendly environment and our staff receive training regularly to support the delivery of a variety of ASD strategies and techniques. These include:
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System):
PECS consists of six phases and begins by teaching an individual to give a single picture of a desired item or action to a ‘communicative partner’ who immediately honours the exchange as a request.. Many children use PECS and build upon this knowledge to become more verbal in their communication.
To find out more visit: https://nationalautismresources.com/the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs/
Visuals and Communicate in Print:
Visuals, made using the Communicate in Print programme, are a vital tool that enable children with ASD to navigate through life. Visuals are key to supporting the structured environment we create around the school and support the developing of confidence and independence as well as alleviating anxiety about what is coming next. These include visual timetables, now and next boards and visual instructions.
All classes use a visual timetable to enable all children to navigate their school day. There are many visual signs around the school too.
TEACCH (Teaching, Expanding, Appreciating, Collaborating, Cooperating, Holistic):
The TEACCH approach is used by staff working with children who have ASD. TEACCH enables children to develop independence in learning and to consolidate skills in core areas of the curriculum and in other individual target areas for each child.
To find out more please visit: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/strategies-and-interventions/strategies-and-interventions/teacch
SCERTS:
SCERTS is an overarching approach to autism education created by a multidisciplinary team of experts. The letters in the name stand for Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support. SCERTS is not a therapeutic technique; rather, it is a model for engaging autistic children which, when properly applied, "provides specific guidelines for helping a child become a competent and confident social communicator while preventing problem behaviours that interfere with learning and the development of relationships. The Sunshine Centre implement and utilises SCERTS in their assessment and monitoring processes.
Zones of Regulations
The Zones of Regulation is an internationally-renowned intervention which helps children to manage difficult emotions, known as ‘self-regulation’. Self-regulation can go by many names such as ‘self-control’, ‘impulse management’ and ‘self-management’. Self-regulation is best described as the best state of alertness for a situation. Jubilee has a whole school approach to Zones of Regulation and children accessing the Sunshine Centre have targeted sessions to teach all of our children good coping and regulation strategies so they can help themselves when they experience anxiety and stress.. By teaching them how to cope with these feelings, we might make them better at tackling learning challenges and build better resilience so they don’t give up so easily when faced with difficulty.
Sensory Provision:
We have a sensory room with a variety of apparatus that help children to navigate and manage their sensory needs. These include ear defenders, weighted blankets and fidget toys.
Have a look on the website below for more ideas to support your child.
https://theimaginationtree.com/40-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-kids/
SALT (Speech and Language Therapy)
All children in the Sunshine Centre resource base receive SALT. Targets are part of their daily routine in base and in the mainstream classroom and the children receive sessions with our therapists.
Workshops and resources for parents:
We offer a variety of workshops for parents to help them support their children at home and in the wider community. We can support with routines, communication at home, being safe and any other areas of daily life. We can provide a variety of resources including symbols, social stories, visual timetables, charts, PECS boards and ideas to use at home.
We also invite speakers from outside agencies e.g. Speech and Language, School Home Support, and are on hand to support parents in accessing any additional services or support they may need.
Applying for a place at the Sunshine Centre Resource Base:
Lambeth’s Special Educational Needs department manages applications for a place in our Resource Base for Autism. If you are considering applying for a place in our Resource Base, there are a few things you need to know:
- Your child must have a diagnosis of Autism or going through the Autism assessment process
- Your child must have an Education, Health and Care Plan
Please contact the Lambeth SEND team and request a consultation for a place at the school.
Decisions are based on children’s needs and availability of places at the Resource Base.
To apply to Jubilee primary school with an EHCP please follow this link:
