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Shefford Lower School

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Welcome To The Orchard

The Orchard SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) ARP is an Additional Resource Provision within the SEND offer at Shefford Lower School. It provides specialist support for up to eight pupils at any one time who may find a mainstream classroom environment challenging.

The Orchard offers a caring, nurturing and inclusive setting where children with SEMH needs are supported through a personalised, creative and connected curriculum. The provision is designed to help pupils develop their emotional wellbeing, social skills and resilience, enabling them to thrive both academically and personally while building the confidence and skills needed to engage successfully in school life.

The provision supports pupils with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan where Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) has been identified as the primary area of need.

Pupils may also have one or more secondary areas of need, including:

  • Cognition and Learning Needs, such as Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD).
  • Communication and Interaction Needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Placement within the provision is determined by the Local Authority, which must identify that a specialist placement at The Orchard is appropriate to meet the pupil's needs before a place can be offered.

Meet The Orchard Team 

ARP (ID 1124)

The staff at the provision are extremely helpful and caring towards the children, my son enjoys going to the placement. There isn’t anything the staff won’t do to support your child and even the rest of your family

G.R.O.W. (Getting Ready for Our World) Curriculum

The G.R.O.W. (Getting Ready for Our World) Curriculum is delivered every Friday at The Orchard ARP to provide pupils with practical life skills that prepare them for greater independence, community participation, and adulthood. The programme is designed to complement the wider curriculum by giving pupils regular opportunities to develop essential skills in real-life contexts, building confidence, resilience, and personal responsibility.

Each weekly session focuses on areas that are fundamental to everyday living, including personal safety, budgeting, community awareness, independent living skills, and personal development. Pupils learn through practical, hands-on experiences such as visits to local shops, preparing meals, completing household tasks, and practising social and communication skills in the community. These activities enable pupils to apply their learning in meaningful situations, promoting the generalisation of skills beyond the classroom.

Our Curriculum

 


 

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