Redriff Autism Resource Base – The Boathouse
A crucial part of Redriff school is our Autism Resource Base – The Boathouse.
Some children with Autism and Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) have resource base places at Redriff, or ‘Boathouse’ places. Within this provision, children are supported in many different ways depending on their strengths and needs. Some children with a resource base place learn within their mainstream classes and receive support from specialist staff, and some children learn in specialist teaching groups in the morning and in their mainstream classes in the afternoon. Specialist teaching groups cover numeracy, literacy and speech and language objectives, based on the child’s level of need, and all children spend assembly, break, playtimes and lunchtimes together, across The Boathouse and the mainstream school.
Children who are taught within The Boathouse specialist teaching groups (see below) will spend each morning out of their mainstream class. The goal of the taught groups is for children to develop their independent learning skills and ultimately transition to spending an increased amount of time in the mainstream classroom. Each group is designed to be fluid and to give the children the support they need to build their skills at an appropriate level and pace. What this looks like day to day is outlined further for each group on the link below.
All of our specialist teaching groups follow an adapted TEACCH structure; TEACCH is an evidence based approach to teaching people with autism.
For the afternoon sessions in the school day, the mainstream teachers work closely with the SEND & Inclusion team to plan engaging, accessible and inclusive lessons for all children to access in the mainstream classroom.
Boathouse Admissions
All children that attend the Boathouse (Redriff’s Autism Resource Base) have an Education, Health and Care Plan as well as a diagnosis of Autism. Our SEND & Inclusion Team will always work alongside parents and the local authority to ensure that children are provided with the most suitable provision for their strengths and needs.
If you would like your child to attend the Boathouse you will need to talk to the SEN Team at the Local Authority and state that your preference is for a place at the Autism Resource Base at Redriff Primary. You can find more details for the Southwark SEN Team here:
Once you have named Redriff Autism Resource Base as one of your preferred placements with Southwark Local Authority, they will send us your child’s documentation, including their EHCP. We respond to Southwark Local Authority with a consultation response letter which references the SEND Code of Practice (2015). We will respond saying one of the following:
- We are able meet their needs and offer them a place at Redriff Autism Resource Base – The Boathouse
- We are not able to meet their needs either due to having no capacity or believing that another school would be more appropriate
- Based on the EHCP alone we are not yet sure if we are able to meet their needs and we would like to arrange an observation at their current school
Following our decision someone from the Local Authority will then contact you to discuss the next steps.
Southwark Information Advice and Support Team (SIAS)
Each local authority have a group of professionals called the Information, Advice and Support Team (IAS) to help you to advocate for your rights and help to find your child a placement at your preferred school called the Information Advice and Support Team. They will give you advice on school applications, EHCPs, and local services and support that you can access.