Headteacher's Welcome
It is a pleasure to welcome you to Forest Park School, a Hampshire local authority maintained special school. We provide education for children and young people aged 2-19 years with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties. In addition, the majority of our pupils have co-occurring needs including Autism, Down Syndrome and physical disabilities.
Forest Park is split across two sites, one mile apart. We have a Primary School in Ringwood Road, Totton catering for around 100 children and a Secondary School in Commercial Road Totton, catering for around 40 young people with the most profound and complex learning difficulties.
At Forest Park we are committed to providing a highly personalised curriculum and stimulating learning environment, which starts with the individual needs of each child and young person. We seek to prepare every member of our school community for the next significant phase in their lives, whatever that might be. In addition, we are dedicated to ensuring that our pupils enjoy school, are happy, confident and proud of themselves and their achievements.
In school we are supported by and work in collaboration with, a range of professionals including School Nurses, Speech and Language therapists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
I hope you enjoy your journey around our website and look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful school at some point in the future.
Ashley Oliver-Catt
Headteacher
TOP- Early Years support
The Thomas Outreach Programme (TOP)
What is TOP?
It is a flexible early intervention service for young children, their families and early year’s settings. It can be provided in the home, at a pre school and in some instances assist with transition into Year R for the first term.
What pupils are eligible?
Any Pupil in their early years school with a social communication difficulty or they are on the autistic spectrum.
Children do not need a formal diagnosis or an EHCP.
How is The Thomas Outreach Programme provided?
The exact programme can vary depending on the individual but likely strategies include:
Visits to school to work with staff to prepare and support the child’s transition
Visits to home to work with the child and parents.
Visits to the Pre-school to help the setting meet the child’s needs
- Flexible time allocation of between 5-15 hours per week per family
What teaching interventions are used?
All teaching interventions used are tailored to match the individual needs of each child.
Teaching strategies are carefully negotiated with parents and pre-school so that they can be used to effectively support the child throughout the day in pre-school and at home.
This way the child gains consistency of support in all settings with all the people in their lives.
What are the aims of The Thomas Outreach Programme?
To provide high quality support and advice to enable pupils with additional needs to meet their potential and feel happy in a setting
- To enable pre school colleagues to understand the nature of the pupils difficulties and to develop their skills and confidence in planning programmes of intervention.
What might the impact be?
Raised confidence in managing a pupil with additional needs
Improved independence.
- A happier child!
What do I do if I think our setting /my child could use The Thomas Outreach Programme?
Contact Oonagh on the school on the primary site number (02380 864949) or email her at OFenemore@forestpark.hants.sch.uk.
You may also be interested to look at the HantsWeb page: The THOMAS approach.
