Moonstone provides an exciting, stimulating and vibrant environment where children can learn, challenge themselves and develop. We have places for 16 children from reception, year 1 and year 2, with a high ratio of experienced and qualified members of staff.
Children from across the HEART trust are offered a space after parents, the inclusion team and outside agencies all agree that they need more support to achieve their potential than a mainstream class can offer.
We see learning opportunities everywhere, inside and outside. Physical development on play equipment, sensory circuits, climbing frames, trampolines, bikes and slides are all on offer. The outdoors environment is safe and secure, affording children the opportunity to build their skills and be challenged. WE make the most of the school grounds, exploring the woods in planned (but often very muddy!) forest schools sessions.
We put speech, language and communication development at the heart of everything we do. To meet the differing needs of children a variety of communication tools and aids are used, symbols, photographs, objects of reference, touch cues and sensory calendars, alongside simple verbal language. Areas in the school are clearly labelled so that children are empowered to understand where they are going and what they are doing throughout their week.
We value experiences and practical hands-on learning, allowing children the chance to discover things they may not be able to on their own, as well as to broaden their horizons and open opportunities to things they may not come across otherwise.
We recognise that our children may need support to develop play skills, to understand the effect they can have on their surroundings and resources available, as well as how to interact with other children. We offer several social skills interventions, and lots of adulted guided opportunities to take part in group games. Staff plan carefully to lead sessions, structure learning and challenge children to achieve at every step and are always, always focussed on the positive!
The environment in Moonstone is more than physical space – it includes the emotions and feelings you get as you walk through our doors, the positivity of the staff, the possibilities that we aim for, the interactions between children, their peers and the adults supporting them, as well as the smiles and laughter along the way.
