Departments

Choose a department

Pupils are grouped according to age and ability to create teaching groups where pupils can learn effectively. Each class is part of a department and pupils come together for assemblies and WOW events.

To find out more, click on a department link below.

  1. NURSERY

    “About us”

    St Giles Nursery is based within St Giles School.

    The nursery is part of the Croydon Local Offer for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and has places for 12-part time or 6 full time nursery children aged over two with identified needs under the Croydon commissioning arrangements.

    Admissions

    All of the children at St Giles Nursery are likely to have complex medical needs, complex physical disabilities and / or Severe (SLD) or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) Learning Difficulties. They are likely to require an Education, Health and Care plan in the future.

    Eligible children will be identified directly by the Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) team as part of their home teaching and support work with families. Following an assessment of the child’s needs to establish eligibility, the team will invite the parents/carers to visit the Nursery in order to decide whether or not they wish to apply for a place for their child.

    Once it has been agreed that a child will be taking a nursery place at St Giles, St Giles School will arrange a meeting with parents. They may visit the child in their current setting or at home, as appropriate. A meeting will be held to enable the school to determine the support required in order to best accommodate the child’s presenting needs within the nursery. The school will liaise with relevant professionals, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and the special school nursing team, in order to facilitate a smooth admission process for the child and their family.

    St Giles School will report back to the Local Authority as to whether the presenting needs can be met and the Local Authority will proceed to offer a place. There are three intakes of pupils a year in September, January and April.

    Our Nursery Provision

    The nursery is in a separate new single-storey, accessible building shared with another Early Years class. There is a large classroom and smaller room for sensory, individual or small group work. The building has a hygiene room with changing beds and a medical room allocated to the Special School Nursing Team.

    There is access over the course of the year to a wide range of facilities at the main school site including the following:  

    • Physiotherapy room
    • Medical rooms for Special School Nursing Hub
    • Hall

    An outdoor area currently includes access to:

    • A covered area
    • Raised beds
    • A Forest School area
    • Soft pour wheelchair track with timetabled access to our specialist bikes for wheelchair users and pupils with reduced mobility

    Staffing

    Deborah Richards, Head of Lower School, manages the nursery provision and is based in the building. She works closely with Sarah Williams, Nursery Lead and Early Years Educator level 3. Nursery staffing is responsive to pupil numbers and currently includes a full-time teaching assistant with a level 3 diploma in preschool practice a part-time Early Years Educator, a part-time Early Years Assistant, a part-time teaching assistant with specialist early years’ experience and two part-time personal care assistants. Hazel Earl, our Family Support Worker, will support the admissions process.

    Staffing needs are reviewed regularly to take account of pupils’ complex needs. Every child will be allocated with a key person who will help your child become familiar with St Giles Nursery and build a relationship with you and your child. You will be introduced to your child’s key worker when they start at St Giles Nursery.

     

    Sessions

    The offer for pupils is 15 hours taken in five hour sessions on three days each week. The nursery opens at 9.45am and closes at 2.45pm.

    In exceptional circumstances, some pupils over the age of three, may request an additional 15 hours. Agreement for this to happen will be at the discretion of the local authority and school. The needs of eligible children requiring part-time places will be given priority. Nursery hours for pupils who have been granted extended hours will be agreed individually between the school and parents.

    Funding

    There are three types of early years funding available to parents:

     

    • 2-Year old – 570 hours,
    • 3 and 4-Year-old – 570 hours,
    • 3 and 4-Year-old – additional 570 hours (extended entitlement).

     

    The criteria for each type of funding is as follows:

     

    1. 2-year-olds can get free childcare if:
    • They are looked after by a local authority
    • They have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
    • They get Disability Living Allowance
    • They have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
    • Their parents receive one of the benefits listed on the website below

    https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds?step-by-step-nav=f237ec8e-e82c-4ffa-8fba-2a88a739783b

     

    1. All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. 

     

    1. 3 to 4 year olds may be entitled to the extended entitlement if:
    • Their parent works – their parent’s partner’s also works if they have one,
    • The parent(s) earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wagefor 16 hours a week on average – the parents should be  earning at least £139 a week and not more than £100,000 a year,
    • The child lives with the parent
    • The parent (s) are from the UK, EEA or from outside the EEA with a UK residence card that says they can access public funds

    https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare?step-by-step-nav=f517cd57-3c18-4bb9-aa8b-1b907e279bf9

     

    Parents can find out more information about their eligibility for each type of funding on the websites below:

     

    The school will need to see evidence of eligibility as follows:

    • For all types of funding we will need evidence of family address and a copy of the child’s birth certificate as proof of his/her date of birth
    • We will additionally need to see a copy of the child’s DLA award letter and eligibility for 2-year-old funding and evidence of eligibility for the 3 and 4-year-old extended entitlement.

     

    Visits to the Nursery

    Individual tours of the school are offered to all incoming parents and children.

     

    Nursery Curriculum

    All children in the nursery class will follow the national EYFS curriculum guidance. The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of the individual child. A great emphasis is placed on learning through play as well as focussed activities.

    Medium Term Plan – Fun at the Fair&Summer – Summer Nursery

    For further information please see the Nursery Handbook

     Nursery Handbook 2021- 22

     

  2. LOWER

    Pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are based in our Early Years’ classes – Blue, Orange, and Sky Blue, with children of similar developmental levels and with a very high staff to pupil ratio.

    Learning opportunities are provided through a topic based curriculum, taking into account the children’s interests. We provide a wide range of creative and sensory learning activities. These promote development across all areas of learning outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

    • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
    • Communication and Language
    • Physical Development
    • Literacy
    • Mathematics
    • Understanding of the World
    • Expressive Arts and Design

    Activities are planned inside and outside to develop pupils learning through class topics and individual pupil interests. The class staff are supported by speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to ensure that each pupil can access activities and develop good communication skills. Communication is central to the whole curriculum and specialist input includes objects of reference, signing, symbols, communication books or communication devices.

    Our approach is

    • Play based
    • Practical
    • Flexible
    • Child lead
    • Individualised
    • Sensory
    • Fun

    And promotes:

    • Exploration
    • Independence
    • Curiosity
    • Engagement

    We keep detailed learning journals to record the children’s progress using observations, photos and videos. Each child has personalised Next Steps that they are working on.

    We work very closely with parents and carers to help each child to settle in to, and make the most of, school. Families are invited to special events and there is regular contact through home/school books, phone calls, newsletters and meetings.

     

  3. MIDDLE

    Pupils in Year 3 – 6 are based in Silver, Gold, Purple, Pink and Green classes. Pupils are grouped according to age and ability to maximise progress. They follow a creative curriculum linking together all the subjects of the Primary National Curriculum differentiated and adapted to make learning relevant and fun.

    Termly topics give opportunities to develop core English and Maths skills as well as developing subject knowledge and skills in all subject areas. E.g. the topic ‘Superheroes’ includes English – story writing, Maths – measure (how far, how heavy, how long?), Science – forces, History – famous heroes in history.

    All five Primary classes follow the same topic but the content is differentiated to enable pupils to extend their knowledge and understanding according to their age and ability.

    Teaching and learning in the Primary classes is highly practical, following on from the Early Years approach, with pupils working in different groupings, whole class, small group or 1-1, depending on the activity.

    Each pupil continues to work on their Next Steps to ensure they make good progress.

  4. UPPER

    Pupils in Year 7 – 14 are grouped according to age and ability. Pupils with profound and severe learning difficulties are taught mostly by their class teacher whilst pupils with moderate learning difficulties benefit from being taught by subject teachers who can take them through to GCSE if appropriate.

    Pupils continue to work on their individual Next Steps targets and therapy programmes whilst developing their understanding and experience across the National Curriculum.

    Pupils are encouraged to be as independent as possible, to develop their self esteem and to shine. Everyone performs in the Secondary Show and many represent St Giles and Croydon at Disability Sports events.

    KS3 – Pupils in KS3 follow a creative curriculum linking all the National Curriculum subjects under termly themes. Teachers use the themes to develop knowledge, skills and experience across the subject areas and also work with their colleagues to provide opportunities for students to work toward a shared goal, e.g. a special assembly at the end of the ‘Let’s celebrate’ theme.

    KS4 – Pupils in KS4 work towards accreditation in all their subjects dependent on their ability. A few pupils take GCSEs while most work towards Entry level and Unit awards. Pupils also complete units in Life Skills, English, Maths, PE, Art, Music and DT towards ASDAN Bronze and Silver Awards.

    Pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties continue to develop their early skills and also achieve Unit Awards that celebrate their achievements.

    All pupils have opportunities for Work Experience such as helping in a Primary class, assisting the music teacher or secretary or working at the local Garden Centre. Pupils and their families are supported to find appropriate college places and courses for KS5. Recent placements have been – Level 1 courses in ICT and Child Care at Nescot and Croydon College; Life Skills at Carshalton College; Special School Sixth form at Clifton Hill and Priory.

    KS5 – Students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties remain at St Giles for KS5. They follow a personalised curriculum continuing to develop their communication, physical development and emotional and social skills based around creative themes. There are practical opportunities to develop life skills such as helping with messages round school, cooking, gardening and household activities. Students have regular trips into the local community to help them learn to cope with different environments and different people.

    All KS5 pupils are supported to transition to Further Education or adult services when they leave St Giles.