Thank you for your interest in our school.
The school is a purpose built teaching and learning environment. Our excellent facilities include hydrotherapy/ swimming pool, specialist music, food technology, soft play and sensory rooms. There is a beautiful sensory garden.
There are designated classrooms for pupils with autism, pupils with severe learning difficulties and pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Group rooms are available to individual/ paired classes.
For pupils with autism, in addition to six designated classes for pupils with autism, there are two autism bases (infant and junior), providing individual rooms (learning stations) where pupils can learn in the optimum learning environment with minimal distraction. There is also a sensory circuit.
There is a resource base for pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties where, for example, pupils can work on MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education/ Experience) program objectives. Rebound therapy is available to our pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.
Pupils are grouped in classes according to age within the Early Years Foundation Stage/infant and junior phases of the school. Each class has a teacher, a higher level teaching assistant or Senior Nursery Nurse and teaching assistants.
The school day for children is from 9.15am until 3.30pm.
A wide range of therapists provide support for pupils and expert guidance for staff. Therapies offered at Watergate include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and music therapy. Education and health professionals working closely together to meet each child’s very complex needs. The school works in partnership with our allocated Educational Psychologist who provides expert advice to the school and parents on a range of issues such as behaviour and learning, including parent workshops.
There is a welcoming, calm, purposeful and positive atmosphere within the school. At Watergate pupils’ learning and achievement is our priority. To enable each pupil to achieve their full potential, we provide excellent and motivating education, tailored to individual needs in a safe and secure environment. There is a strong emphasis on positive behaviour management, working with pupils to develop, at their level of understanding, their ability to distinguish right from wrong and to accept responsibility for their behaviour. Developing pupil self-confidence and self-esteem is a key element of Watergate’s curriculum. Success, progress and achievement are celebrated; independence is encouraged; everyone is valued and respected as an individual and pupils are taught to respect others. Staff role model and prioritise the teaching of mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith, in as far as the pupils are able to understand. Our school community embraces many cultural backgrounds. Therefore the development of an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures is an integral part of the curriculum. There is a democratically elected School Council. The School Council represents pupil voice and instigates initiatives within the school. Some examples of how pupils have contributed positively to others include contributions to the local food bank and more widely fund raising for Children in Need and other charities. The teaching of British Values is central to Watergate’s curriculum. Everyone involved in the school has a shared purpose and pride in the school and the school community. Watergate is a learning community. We are responsive to the needs of all our pupils in a caring and friendly atmosphere, where quality and excellence are encouraged and acknowledged. We make a difference to our pupils’ lives. We work hard to be helpful, supportive and positive to our parent(s)/ carer(s), maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times.
Watergate governors and staff fully recognise the contribution they make to safeguarding children and the school takes its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. The school is committed to providing an environment for pupils, where children feel safe and are kept safe and all staff contribute to the culture of vigilance which is embedded in our school. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. Watergate recognises that each member of the school community has a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm. What is in the best interests of the child is considered at all times. The school works very closely with other agencies, particularly Children with Disabilities/ Children with Complex Needs Team (Social Care) to promote the welfare of our pupils and to protect them from harm. The Headteacher (Fiona Veitch) is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school.