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The Nest

The Nest — Specialist SEND Provision at Inglehurst Infant School

Welcome to The Nest, our specialist internal provision for up to ten pupils with more complex Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Nest supports children in Reception to Year 2 whose communication, interaction, sensory or developmental needs mean they require a highly personalised, structured environment, while still remaining active and valued members of our school community.

The Nest provides a nurturing, calm and predictable space where children can learn at their own pace, build communication and independence and develop the foundations they need to thrive.

Our Vision

The Nest exists to ensure every child:

  • feels safe and understood
  • accesses learning that is meaningful and appropriately pitched
  • experiences success daily
  • develops communication and interaction skills
  • receives highly structured emotional and sensory support
  • takes part in mainstream learning where appropriate
  • builds confidence, independence and resilience

We work closely with families and external professionals to create individualised pathways for each child.

Who The Nest Is For

The Nest supports pupils who:

  • have significant communication and interaction needs, including autism
  • have sensory processing difficulties requiring a low‑demand, structured environment
  • require tailored learning that cannot be met fully in a mainstream class
  • benefit from predictable routines, visual structure and personalised adult support
  • need opportunities for supported inclusion

Placement is decided collaboratively with families, school leaders, external professionals and, where relevant, the Local Authority.

Our Three Pathways

Pathway 1 — Bespoke Individualised Support

  • Significant 1:1 or very small‑group work
  • Emphasis on regulation, engagement and early communication
  • Minimal whole‑class access
  • Highly personalised learning activities

Pathway 2 — Individualised Support With Curriculum Access

  • Frequent adult support
  • Access to parts of the curriculum with adaptations
  • Regular workstation use
  • Short, supported periods in mainstream teaching

Pathway 3 — Curriculum Access and Inclusion

  • Supported access to whole-class teaching
  • Inclusion in assemblies and wider school life
  • Opportunities for both workstation and mainstream learning
  • Increasing independence with adult scaffolding

Pathways are flexible and reviewed regularly.

What Learning Looks Like in The Nest

A Highly Structured Environment

Children learn best when they know what to expect. Our daily routines, visual supports and predictable transitions help children feel secure and ready to learn.

Communication-Friendly Practice

Communication development is central to The Nest. Staff use:

  • Visual supports and symbol-based communication
  • Makaton signing
  • PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) for children who benefit from a structured, functional communication approach. PECS supports children to communicate wants and needs by exchanging visual symbols, building foundational communication skills that can later develop into speech or AAC.
  • Core vocabulary boards
  • Short, clear language and modelling
  • Structured turn-taking and interaction routines

Specialist Approaches and Interventions

Children access a range of evidence-informed approaches tailored to their needs, including:

Communication & Interaction

  • PECS (for children who need a systematic communication pathway)
  • Intensive Interaction
  • Attention Autism
  • Play Interaction
  • Colourful Semantics
  • Fun Time social communication groups

Regulation & Sensory Support

  • Soft play sessions
  • Sensory circuits
  • Sensory massage — calm, gentle, sensory-based touch and movement routines used to support regulation, body awareness and relaxation. This approach can help reduce anxiety, support emotional stability and prepare children for learning.
  • Messy play and sensory exploration
  • Yoga and movement sessions

Cognition & Learning

  • Tailored phonics (ALS)
  • Early maths through practical activities
  • Workstations
  • Continuous provision with targeted interventions

These approaches build early communication, attention, independence, emotional regulation and foundational academic skills.

What Is a Workstation?

Workstations are structured learning areas set up with clear visual instructions and simple, achievable tasks that children can complete independently. They help children develop:

  • independence
  • focus
  • confidence
  • task completion
  • understanding of routines

Workstations form an essential part of The Nest’s structured learning approach.

Inclusion Opportunities

Although The Nest is a specialist provision, pupils remain fully part of Inglehurst Infant School.

Children may join mainstream classes for:

  • story times
  • assemblies
  • appropriate curriculum sessions
  • celebrations and trips
  • classroom routines
  • peer interaction opportunities

Inclusion is carefully planned and personalised to ensure it is positive, meaningful and successful.

Partnership With Parents and Professionals

We work closely with:

  • families
  • speech and language therapists
  • SEND services
  • educational psychologists
  • medical and therapy professionals
  • Early Help and other agencies

Parents are central to our work. We communicate regularly, share progress, agree next steps and celebrate achievements together.

Monitoring Progress

Progress is tracked using:

  • personalised targets
  • EHCP outcomes (where applicable)
  • developmental frameworks
  • specialist assessment tools
  • regular reviews
  • observations of communication, engagement, regulation and independence

Targets are reviewed termly, or sooner if achieved.

A Day in The Nest Might Include:

  • Meet and Greet
  • Hello Time
  • Sensory regulation or movement sessions
  • Soft play
  • Workstation time
  • Phonics
  • Early maths
  • Sensory story (focus text)
  • Messy play
  • Outdoor learning
  • Snack preparation (life skills)
  • Attention Autism sessions
  • Play interaction
  • Sensory massage
  • Calm-down time

Learning is always balanced between nurture, structure, communication and play.

Our Commitment

We are committed to ensuring that every child in The Nest:

  • feels safe, supported and known
  • develops essential communication and interaction skills
  • builds independence and confidence
  • experiences success every day
  • accesses mainstream learning where appropriate
  • is celebrated for who they are

At The Nest, we believe every child can flourish with the right support, relationships and environment.

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