Admissions
Admissions to the DSP are made through the Royal Borough of Greenwich SEN department. The DSP has capacity for 16 students. We call our DSP The Centre for Autism.
Vision
The DSP is a nurturing environment which is outward facing. We spend time getting to know our students very well, so that we can help them make a successful transition into the mainstream.
We believe that teaching students with autism enables teachers to question and perfect their communications skills with all students. Subject specialists with an interest in teaching children with autism are encouraged to spend some of their time teaching in the DSP. Our DSP teaching team consists of one lead teacher, two ASD Learning Coaches and three Support Assistants.
We advise all mainstream teachers on best practice when teaching students with autism and work closely with the mainstream teachers of our particular students.
All non-teaching staff are given detailed information about how to support our students.
Our aim is to ensure that The John Roan School is an autism friendly school, since an autism friendly school is friendly for everyone. We were one of the first schools in the borough to be awarded The Autistic Education Trust’s Standards, which gives us recognition as an autism-friendly school and we continue to monitor our support for students with autism against these standards.
Facilities
The DSP is based at the Westcombe Park site (WP) and includes one large classroom, 2 small classrooms, a therapy room and a sensory room. We also have an annexe at the Maze Hill site (MH).
We use the libraries, canteens and playgrounds on both sites.
From the beginning of September students attend registration with their mainstream tutor groups and attend their year group assembly once a week.
Provision is made for DSP students who might find the canteen and playground overwhelming. DSP students go into lunch early and are gradually introduced to busier periods in the dining hall at a speed which suits the individual student.
DSP students are encouraged to take part in activities open to their year group, such as school trips and events run by subject areas.
The First Half Term
For the first half term, students are taught in the DSP. The DSP curriculum is the same as the mainstream curriculum, and is adapted according to the needs of our students. Some subject specialists deliver lessons in the DSP, and the DSP team deliver all other subjects.
The focus is on preparing for a successful transition into the mainstream.
Joining The Mainstream
Students join mainstream lesson one subject at a time. Student progress is continually monitored and support is adapted as necessary.
We continue to monitor our DSP students as they progress through school and adapt our support for each student as needs change. We remain flexible, so that students can withdraw from mainstream or join mainstream classes at any time. Students study as many GCSE subjects as is appropriate for them. We not offer alternative pathways. Our aim is that by the end of Year 11 all DSP students have achieved their full potential in all aspects of their learning, both socially and academically.
Contacts
The Inclusion Office: 020 8516 7541
Student Support Manager
Ashleigh France - ashleigh.france@thejohnroanschool.org.uk
Lead Teacher of the DSP
Kate Ling - Kate.Ling@thejohnroanschool.org.uk
SENCO
Rosie Masson - Rosie.masson@thejohnroanschool.org.uk