ACORN ASSESSMENT CENTRE

The Acorn Centre is based on two sites: Queenswell Infant School in Whetstone and Colindale Primary School. Acorn is managed under Oakleigh School & Early Years Intervention Centre.

The Acorn Assessment Centre supports pre-school children with a wide range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This includes children with medical conditions, physical disabilities, social and communication differences, autism, and other learning needs. Each child’s needs are carefully assessed over time, with ongoing multi-disciplinary intervention to help them make progress and reach their potential. Assessments also inform statutory processes and help identify the resources children may need for their next educational placement.

Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, adapted to suit individual learning needs. Staff work alongside Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists, implementing targets and strategies recommended for each child. Support is provided according to individual need, and not all children access every therapy. Therapy input is guided by therapists within the Whittington Health NHS Integrated Therapy Services, who make decisions regarding the type and level of support. Children not known to the therapy services will need to go through the usual referral process, which Acorn staff can support with if needed.

We have different class groupings tailored to children’s learning needs, including groups for children with social and communication differences and groups for those with more complex learning, health, or physical needs. Each class is designed to provide a structured, predictable, and supportive learning environment.

Focus on Communication
A key area of focus at Acorn is communication. Children are supported using a Total Communication approach, which means using all ways of communicating that work best for them. This may include:

• Visual supports, such as object cues, pictures, or symbols, adapted to the child’s abilities
• Structured and responsive learning environments tailored to individual needs

Staff use a range of strategies and techniques to help children understand, express themselves, and participate fully in activities.

Therapies and Additional Support

• Access to specialist facilities soft play and sensory areas.
• A Family Support Worker helps families develop strategies for communication and other areas of development and can signpost to external services such as Barnet Housing, MENCAP, or Barnet Children’s Social Care..
• Personal Learning Plans are developed collaboratively with families and professionals and reviewed regularly.

Children attend three-hour sessions, up to five times per week, making up 15 hours of nursery entitlement. We encourage full attendance but take individual family circumstances into account. Children are expected to attend a minimum of three sessions per week when well; this does not include absences due to illness or medical appointments.

Workshops and Family Support
Acorn offers workshops throughout the year on areas such as communication, behaviour, sensory processing, sleep, and toilet training. These are developed in response to parent/carer needs.

Admissions
Parents/carers are encouraged to visit the Acorn site closest to their home. Referrals usually come from early years professionals and are considered by the Early Years SEND Admissions Panel, which allocates places based on individual needs and availability. For more details, please refer to the Acorn Admissions Policy.

For further information, please contact Rachel Preston, Head of Service, at:

• Acorn Colindale Office: 020 8205 6393
• Acorn Queenswell Office: 020 8445 2818
• Mobile: 07827 993154
• Email: Rachel.preston@acorn.barnetmail.net