The Cove is our Focused Provision Unit for pupils with complex social, emotional, communication, and sensory needs. The Cove curriculum is carefully designed to support learners with PMLD, ASD, ADHD, SEMH, and learning differences, who are working developmentally within a neurotypical academic age range of 0–6 years. 

The curriculum draws upon a Sensory Curriculum, ensuring learning experiences are highly structured, predictable, and meaningful. Provision prioritises sensory regulation, communication, emotional development, early cognition, and engagement, enabling pupils to access learning at their developmental level while reducing barriers to progress.

The Cove also follows the Core Word Programme, supporting communication and early literacy development. This approach recognises that many children, particularly autistic learners, acquire language through whole-word recognition and gestalt phrases. Teaching is organised into repeated weekly sessions, each centred on a single core word, allowing pupils to build understanding, confidence, and functional communication through consistent repetition and modelling.

Learning is delivered through personalised one-to-one and small-group sessions, alongside carefully supported opportunities to access wider school experiences where appropriate. Close collaboration with parents, class teachers, and external professionals ensures provision is responsive, coherent, and aligned with individual SEND needs and outcomes.

The overarching aim of The Cove curriculum is to support pupils to develop communication, regulation, and independence skills, enabling them to engage positively with learning and make sustained developmental progress.