Apple Blossom Class is a warm, nurturing, and supportive learning environment where every child is valued, understood, and encouraged to thrive. We are a Total Communication Environment, which means that we support and encourage all forms of communication. Children are supported to communicate in ways that work best for them, including speech, signing, symbols, gestures, visual supports, communication devices, and body language. We believe that every child has a voice and deserves to be heard.

Our class follows a child-centred approach where relationships, trust, and emotional wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do. We work from a model of connection, not compliance, because we believe that meaningful learning begins when children feel safe, connected, and understood. We always believe in the potential of every child and celebrate all achievements, no matter how big or small. Some children will remain in Apple Blossom Class for their whole time at St Leonard’s School and continue to learn on the semi-formal pathway. Children who are accessing a formal curriculum, such as the National Curriculum, by the end of Year 2, will move on to our other SEND Unit class, Cherry Blossom, where learning styles and the curriculum are more formal.

Children in Apple Blossom Class work on a semi-formal curriculum pathway called Equals. The Equals curriculum is designed to provide meaningful, engaging, and personalised learning opportunities for children with a range of learning needs. It focuses on developing key life skills and supports learning across a broad range of areas including:

Alongside Equals, we also follow the Engagement Model. The Engagement Model is used to support and assess children who are working below subject-specific learning. It focuses on how children engage with their learning through areas such as exploration, motivation, persistence, anticipation, and initiation. This helps us to understand each child’s unique learning style and celebrate the small steps of progress that are so important.

Children are supported throughout the day by a highly skilled and specialised staff team who understand the importance of building strong relationships and creating a calm, safe environment. Learning takes place through:

We recognise that every child learns differently, and we carefully adapt activities to meet individual needs and interests. There is a strong focus on supporting children’s sensory regulation, communication development, and emotional wellbeing throughout the school day.

In Apple Blossom Class, we place a strong emphasis on:

We aim to create a loving and respectful environment where every learning style and communication style is valued and celebrated.

Our school day runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm and is carefully structured to provide children with consistency, routine, and opportunities for both learning and regulation throughout the day.