Ready to Learn


Helping to ensure our pupils are supported and ready to learn.

We are focused on continuing to deliver the highest quality of education at the point of need. All of our pathways, including Ready to Learn, provide a bridge to the next step in children's education; be that improving outcomes towards ARE, graduating from Ready to Learn, building on attendance in class or moving to specialist provision. Ready to Learn (R2L) is a bespoke, personalised provision developed to support a small number of children with social, emotional and mental health needs.  It is a nurturing environment underpinned by attachment and trauma informed practice and Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs.  The key purpose of Ready to Learn  is to provide high quality care, support and boundaries that enables children to participate in the full curriculum. We understand that all children have individual needs and starting points. We prioritise emotional and psychological needs so that children are able to develop emotional resilience to become effective learners and be ready to learn alongside their peers. 

Key Aims

  • To provide social and emotional learning based on a THRIVE and ELSA approach.

  • To support children at risk of exclusion by understanding the communicative function of behaviour and developing proactive approaches to meet individual needs. 

  • To develop strategies and learning behaviours to children are able to increase successful time in class

  • To support families by develop strong parent / school partnership

We understand that all behaviours are a form of communication that can have a positive or negative impact on self, others or the environment.  We strive to understand the reasons behind the individual behaviours and tailor therapeutic approaches to ensure children feel safe and have a nurturing and attuned approach to learning. 

‘The impressive ‘Ready to Learn’ provision offers highly structured, bespoke targeted support for a very small group of some of the most vulnerable pupils exhibiting challenging behaviour. Strategies developed here have helped to improve systems across the school, and pupils’ behaviour and attitudes are now good.’ Ofsted 2022

A decision will be made in partnership with parents and carers to decide if it is appropriate for a child to access the Ready to Learn provision. Pupils will access the provision for an initial period of 6 weeks, when progress will be assessed and reviewed.  Parents and carers will be involved in this process and together a forward plan will be agreed.

Pupils accessing the Ready to Learn provision benefit from following: 

  • a nurturing approach to promote and reinforce pupil self-esteem through explicit praise, reward and encouragement

  • A safe, secure base, where children can learn to take risks and gradually increase self esteem. 

  • A safe physical environment providing containment and physical boundaries. 

  • A therapeutic curriculum based on the principles of ELSA, THRIVE and PBS Six Strands - targeted to the specific needs of the group or the individual. 

  • Clear and consistent boundaries

  • A highly structured daily routine with clear visual prompts and structures. 

  • A one to one drop off and with key staff and daily hand over at the end of the day

  • activities to develop their communication skills and collaborative working skills

  • creative, enriching opportunities to develop emotional literacy

  • Strong links to their class with the expectation that time in class will be increased to full time based on the needs of the child. 

  • work to support curriculum targets defined by Class teachers and SENCo including pre-teaching and learning interventions as appropriate 

  • An appropriate level of support to access class activities