The Grove

Welcome to The Grove, at Portfields Primary School
The Grove is a nurturing, inclusive learning environment where every child is valued, supported and
encouraged to grow in confidence, independence and achievement. Like a grove of trees, our community is built on the understanding that each individual develops at their own pace, with the right care, guidance and opportunities.

At The Grove, we provide a safe, calm and structured environment where pupils can feel secure, develop positive relationships and discover their strengths. Through personalised learning, sensory approaches and a strong focus on wellbeing, we help every learner build the skills they need to thrive both academically and personally.

We believe that every child deserves to feel they belong. The Grove is a place where differences are celebrated, resilience is nurtured and success is recognised in all its forms.

Accessing The Grove
The Grove is a Local Authority Unit within our mainstream school, designed to support pupils with
communication and interaction needs, including those with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). Places at The Grove are allocated by the Local Authority through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) consultation and placement process. Families cannot apply directly to the school; all referrals and applications must be made through the Local Authority, who will determine whether The Grove is the most appropriate provision to meet a child's needs. We warmly welcome visits from parents, carers and professionals who would like to learn more about our provision. Please contact the school to arrange a visit and see how The Grove supports pupils to achieve their full potential.

As a specialist provision within a mainstream school, The Grove offers pupils the best of both worlds. Children benefit from highly specialised teaching, personalised support and structured interventions while also having opportunities to participate in the wider school community. These opportunities are carefully planned and tailored to each individual child, ensuring they access mainstream experiences only when it is appropriate for their needs, interests and stage of development.

At The Grove, we also place great importance on building a strong sense of community. We want every family to feel welcomed, valued and connected as part of both The Grove and the wider school. By fostering positive relationships between families, staff and pupils, we create a supportive network where experiences can be shared, successes celebrated and everyone works together to help each child thrive.

Our Curriculum Offer

At The Grove, our curriculum is designed around the individual needs, strengths and aspirations of every pupil. We recognise that children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and communication and interaction needs learn best when they feel safe, understood and engaged. Our Trust developed Blossom Curriculum provides a personalised pathway that nurtures each child's development, ensuring learning is meaningful, motivating and accessible.

The Blossom Curriculum places communication, independence, emotional regulation and personal
development at its heart. Alongside the Blossom Curriculum, pupils access a specialist sensory curriculum, which supports the development of sensory processing, self-regulation and readiness to learn. Teaching is underpinned by specialist communication and interaction strategies, with visual supports, structured teaching approaches and personalised interventions embedded throughout the school day. Learning opportunities are carefully adapted to meet each child's individual profile, enabling pupils to develop confidence, resilience and the skills they need to flourish both within school and beyond.

We believe that successful learning is built on strong partnerships. Parents and carers are the experts on their children, and their knowledge is invaluable in helping us create personalised learning experiences. Information gathered from families informs each child's curriculum, targets and learning environment, ensuring that support reflects their interests, strengths, sensory preferences and individual needs. We work closely with families through regular review meetings, celebrating progress together and ensuring there is a shared understanding of each child's development and next steps.

The Grove benefits from the expertise of a range of specialist professionals. Speech and Language Therapists work regularly within the school, collaborating with staff to model strategies, deliver targeted interventions and provide specialist advice that is integrated into everyday teaching. We also work in partnership with a range of external agencies, including Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology and Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), to ensure pupils receive holistic support tailored to their needs. This multidisciplinary approach enables us to respond effectively to each child's communication, sensory, emotional and learning profile.

All staff at The Grove receive ongoing specialist training to ensure they can meet the diverse communication and learning needs of our pupils. This includes training in the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)systems, enabling staff to support pupils in developing effective communication using a range of methods appropriate to their individual needs. Staff are also trained in the RISE approach, ensuring a consistent, evidence-informed understanding of autism and neurodiversity across the provision. This shared expertise allows us to create a communication-rich, inclusive environment where every child is supported to express themselves, engage in learning and achieve their full potential.

Progress is carefully monitored through Evidence for Learning, allowing us to capture and celebrate achievements that may not always be reflected through traditional assessment methods. By recording observations, photographs, videos and examples of learning, we build a rich picture of each pupil's progress over time. Regular parent meetings provide opportunities to review this evidence together, discuss individual targets and ensure that home and school continue to work in partnership to support every child to reach their full potential.

Our Environment
At The Grove, we have invested significant time and care in creating an environment that reflects our vision, our values and, most importantly, the individual needs of our pupils. Every space has been thoughtfully designed to provide a calm, predictable and purposeful setting that supports communication, independence, wellbeing and learning. Our environment recognises that pupils learn best when they feel safe, regulated and understood, with spaces that can be adapted to meet a range of sensory and learning needs.

The Grove is home to four specialist classrooms: The Nest, The Hive, The Den and The Burrow. Each
classroom follows either a Sensory Pathway or a Structured Pathway, ensuring that teaching and the
environment are tailored to pupils' individual profiles. Classrooms are designed with clear routines, visual supports and flexible learning spaces that encourage engagement while minimising unnecessary sensory distractions.

Recognising the importance of emotional regulation, we have dedicated spaces where pupils can access support when they need it. The Nook and The Hollow are calming, low-arousal environments that provide opportunities for pupils to regulate their emotions, recharge and develop self-regulation strategies with the support of trusted adults. Our specialist Sensory Room offers an immersive space where pupils can safely explore and engage their senses, supporting sensory integration, relaxation and emotional wellbeing.

Outdoor learning is an important part of life at The Grove. Pupils have access to two dedicated outdoor areas, The Garden and The Meadow, which provide safe, stimulating environments for play, exploration and learning.

These spaces encourage curiosity, physical development and opportunities to develop social communication skills in a natural setting. Pupils also benefit from access to the wider school's outdoor facilities, including the trim trail, trampolines and Forest School, allowing them to experience a broad range of activities that support their physical, social and emotional development.

To ensure every child's personal care needs are met with dignity and respect, The Grove includes accessible toilet facilities, a fully equipped changing area and a wet room. These facilities enable staff to provide appropriate support while promoting comfort, independence and wellbeing throughout the school day.