Cherry Oak School

THE SCHOOL:

Cherry Oak School is a primary school for children with severe learning difficulties and speech, language and communication difficulties, located at Selly Oak in the South of Birmingham.

Cherry Oak is part of a federation with Victoria School which is located in Northfield, also in the south of the city. Victoria is a special school providing for pupils aged 2 – 19 years with significant complex needs including a combination of physical, sensory, medical and cognition and learning needs. 

The Federation's mission is  ‘Working Together for Success’. With this in mind, we strive for sustained improvement through shared learning,  resources,  expertise and achieving together.

THE PUPILS:

Presently at Cherry Oak School, there are 110 children on roll.

Children are referred by the local authority and usually admitted in September each year. Some pupils are admitted at other times during the year.

All children have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for a range of complex learning difficulties.

We have ten classes in our school ; 

OUR CLASSES

Early Years (3-5)

There is one Early Years class - Acorns. They follow a modified  Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

Key stage 1 (5-7) 

Classes;

Bluebells

Clover

In Key Stage 1 there are up to 12 children in each class. Each class is staffed with a teacher and teaching assistants, suitable for the age and needs of the children.

All the classes in Key Stage 1 follow a curriculum based around the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. There is a strong emphasis on developing the foundations for learning. Our children access topics and activities designed to promote their Physical, Social and Emotional Development and their Communication and Language Skills.

The children have lots of opportunities to access outdoor learning both in our wonderful Backlands and with regular visits in the community.

Key Stage 2 (7-11) 

There are five classes in Key Stage 2. 

Elm​

Fern

Maple

Pine

Rowan

Sycamore

Willow   

All the classes are mixed across the 7 to 11 age range.

The children in Bluebells, Elm and Fern classes follow a sensory based curriculum. There is also a higher staff to pupil ratio in these three classes which reflects the needs of the children.

In the other four classes the children are grouped according to their needs and ability.

Literacy and Maths take place each morning and are taught by the class teacher. The foundation subjects are organised on a subject specialism timetable. This enables teachers to focus on a smaller number of subjects which they deliver across the Key Stage, it also ensures high quality subject knowledge and teaching.

The children in Key Stage 2 have plenty of opportunities to access educational visits to enrich the curriculum.