Specialist Base Provision (DSP)

At Rushey Mead Primary School we are privileged to have a Specialist Base, Bonsai Class.  Our Specialist Base supports children with Communication and Interaction needs including Autism.  Our Vision and Ethos for Bonsai Class is to provide a positive learning environment that fosters a sense of inclusion and a celebration of difference.  This will enable the children to have access to and be included in mainstream classes and whole school activities including trips outside of school with their mainstream peers, where appropriate for the children’s needs.

Within Bonsai Class we have two learning areas:

 

• The Learning Zone, for more focused activities
• The Snug, for self-regulation, continuous provision and a more sensory and calming environment 

 

Admission Criteria for Bonsai Class

A child must have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and a Specialist Base named within this.

To gain a place in Bonsai Class, all applications and decisions are made by Leicester City Special Education Services (SES) and not by the school. The maximum number of spaces in our provision is 10 places and we cater for children from Year 1 to Year 6.

 

Inclusion and Access to School

Inclusion is at the heart of Rushey Mead Primary School, and we strive to ensure that all children are able to succeed.  Bonsai class is closely linked to the main school, providing regular opportunities for children in the Specialist Base to be integrated into the main school where appropriate to their needs and vice versa.

In Bonsai Class, all staff use positive behaviour support strategies to create a caring, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment. Where appropriate, each child has an individual risk assessment, which is shared with staff and parents to ensure a collaborative approach. Children also have a pupil profile and a personalised document outlining their triggers and effective support strategies. These documents help to ensure consistency across the whole school staff team, enabling each child to receive the support they need to thrive and achieve their full potential.

 

Bonsai Photo Gallery