The Discovery Zone – Autism Resource Base

The Discovery Zone is a specialist autism resource base for children from Reception to Year 6 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Designed to provide a calm, structured and nurturing environment, the provision supports children to develop communication, independence, emotional regulation and confidence alongside their academic learning. Every child is supported as an individual, with learning tailored carefully to their strengths, needs and EHCP outcomes.

It takes a village to raise a child.

It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of a village.Elaine Hall

A Personalised Approach

Children are taught in small classes with a high ratio of adults to pupils, enabling consistent personalised support throughout the school day. Staff are experienced in supporting children with autism and social communication differences and use a wide range of strategies to help pupils feel safe, understood and successful.

Support focuses on:

• Communication and language development
• Emotional regulation and wellbeing
• Social interaction and friendships
• Independence and life skills
• Academic progress at an appropriate level for each child

Learning programmes are carefully adapted to reflect each pupil’s communication style, sensory profile and stage of development.

Specialist Support and Therapies

Staff work closely with Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists, whose expertise is embedded throughout daily practice.

Therapists provide:

• Targeted individual and small-group interventions
• Classroom strategies and modelling for staff
• Support for communication and sensory needs
• Contributions to EHCP reviews and target setting
• Meetings with parents to discuss progress and next steps

This collaborative approach helps ensure consistency between home, therapy and school.

A Calm and Structured Learning Environment

The learning environment is designed to reduce anxiety and support focus through clear routines, visual structure and low-arousal spaces.

Children benefit from:

• Dedicated sensory areas
• Visual timetables and communication aids
• Structured teaching approaches
• Opportunities for movement and sensory regulation throughout the day

Strategies used across the provision include:

• Visual supports
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Makaton
• Proloquo2Go and communication technology
• TEACCH approaches
• Small-group and individual learning
• Sensory circuits and movement breaks
• Zones of Regulation

Inclusion and Mainstream Integration

Where appropriate, children may access elements of mainstream school life and curriculum learning.

Integration is planned carefully for each child and depends on:

• Individual learning needs
• Communication and emotional regulation
• Confidence and readiness
• Discussions with families and staff

For some children, mainstream integration may form a regular part of their provision, while for others a more specialist environment may be the most supportive approach. Decisions are always made with the child’s wellbeing and progress at the centre.

Classes Within the Discovery Zone

The Discovery Zone is made up of three dedicated classes, each providing a highly structured and nurturing learning environment tailored to the needs of children with autism. Each class is staffed by experienced teachers and support staff who work closely together to deliver consistent, individualised support throughout the school day.

Children are grouped carefully to ensure they are learning alongside peers with similar developmental and communication needs, allowing for targeted teaching, strong relationships and a calm, predictable classroom experience.

Working Together With Families

Strong partnerships with parents and carers are an important part of supporting every child successfully. Families are encouraged to share information, ask questions and work closely with staff throughout their child’s journey.

If you would like to learn more about the provision or discuss whether it may be suitable for your child, enquiries can be made through the SEN team.

Admissions

Admissions to the Discovery Zone are managed through the Wandsworth Special Needs Assessment Service (SNAS) and are not part of the mainstream school admissions process.

Placements are agreed through the EHCP consultation and naming process.