Locations

As a large specialist school for pupils aged 5 to 19 with profound and complex needs, we support our pupils with personalised learning approaches, enabled by expert teaching teams, specialist staff and close partnership with families. 

Maidstone site 

Our main site is situated in Loose, just a few minutes from Maidstone town centre. We share a campus with an academy secondary school, a primary free school, a private nursery, a local church and a gym, giving pupils access to a broad and busy learning environment. 

Satellite Provision

Snodland site 

Our Snodland provision is based in the Wolfe Building between The Holmesdale School and St Katherine’s Primary School. We support Key Stage 2 and secondary-aged pupils, including secondary-aged pupils in our F.O.C.U.S learning approach, and offer opportunities to use mainstream facilities and local amenities to develop independence and functional skills. 

St Katherine’s site 

Our St Katherine’s satellite provision is based within St Katherine’s Primary School. Pupils and staff remain part of Five Acre Wood School while benefiting from being located within a mainstream school community, with opportunities to be alongside mainstream peers where appropriate. 

Oxford Road site 

Our Oxford Road provision is based in part of the building on Oxford Road in Shepway. We supports pupils in the R.E.A.D.Y learning approach and some pupils in the A.P.P.L.Y approach, with access to local amenities and close links to the Loose site. 

What is satellite provision?

In very simple terms, we ‘rent’ accommodation at another educational site.  The pupils and staff within the satellite are Five Acre Wood pupils and Five Acre Wood staff.

  • The curriculum offer aligns with the learning approaches
  • Staff receive the same training as any other member of staff at Five Acre Wood and have the same development opportunities
  • Pupils have Five Acre Wood named in their EHCP and enjoy the same opportunities as others within the school
  • As a whole school or key stage, all Five Acre Wood pupils join together for special seasonal events e.g. nativity, productions
  • Transport is still available, within KCC stipulations

So why have satellite provision?

Fundamentally, it means that we can admit more children to the school and therefore enable more children to receive the Five Acre Wood offer.

Who attends the satellite provision?

  • All pupils have to have an EHCP and have Five Acre Wood School as the named provision
  • The majority of pupils are in the F.O.C.U.S, R.E.A.D.Y or A.P.P.L.Y Learning Approaches
  • Pupils aged between 5 and 19
  • Pupils who are identified as being ready to access the additional benefits of being located near mainstream peers