Welcome to The Quay
St Frideswide Resource Base Provision
What is The Quay?
The Quay is a Resource Base within St Frideswide C of E Primary School.
It supports children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 who have:
- Communication and Interaction needs (including ASD)
- Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs
Children must have an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) to access the provision.
Our Structure
- Two classrooms: one for Lower School (Year 1 - 3) and one for Upper School (Year 4 - 6)
- Each class is led by a Teacher and supported by a Teaching Assistant
- Up to 6 children per class initially, rising to 8 children in April 2026
These small class sizes allow us to tailor support, while maintaining strong links with the mainstream setting.
The school Day
The Quay opens its doors for the first time in September 2025.
In the first instance, the school day will run from 9am - 12pm to support new arrivals to settle and establish routines and relationships. Children who access The Quay may be eligible for SEND School Transport and this will be arranged seperately through Oxfordshire County Council SEND Team. They will liaise directly with parents and carers to arrange this.
Our Approach
At St Frideswide, our practice is grounded in:
- Attachment Theory and Trauma Recovery principles
- Low-sensory, low-arousal environments, to reduce stress and anxiety
- Clear structure and routine, with visual timetables, social stories, and scripts
- Planned transitions and pre-teaching for changes
- Family-style lunches and structured outside play with key adults
This approach is consistent across the whole school, ensuring no barriers for children who need extra support.
Learning at The Quay
Children follow aspects of the National Curriculum alongside a bespoke offer tailored to their needs.
We use:
Multi-sensory learning approaches
EEF-recognised interventions to support Communication and Interaction
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) linked to EHCP outcomes
Individual workstations where appropriate
A curriculum offer that is informed by the AET Framework, TEACCH and PACT recommendations
Our Aim
Our aim is to support children to:
To provide a safe and supportive setting where children feel valued
Develop emotional regulation, resilience, independence and confidence
Strengthen social communication and equip children with the skills they need to engage in learning and everyday tasks
To foster strong links between home, school and the wider community
To support your child to maintain meaningful connections with the mainstream school
Your child’s EHCP will act as the ‘Golden Thread’ that links their offer and provision
Mainstream Inclusion
There is an expectation that children attending a mainstream Base provision will have access to the mainstream offer. As such, children attending The Quay will be offered access to some mainstream lessons and activities.
This will be carefully considered and informed by the child’s needs
Time spent in mainstream is reviewed regularly and increased when appropriate.
The goal is to grow each child’s confidence, independence, and inclusion at a pace that works for them. There is no initial expectation for children to join in mainstream activities or lessons.
Uniform
The children who access The Quay Resource Base our part of our whole school. The uniform is the same as that for all children in St Frideswide Primary School. We are aware that some children accessing the Base provision may have need that prohibits them from wearing certain clothing and are happy to amend expectations accordingly.
https://www.stfrideswides.
Working Together
We partner with families and outside professionals including, amongst others:
- SENSS (Special Educational Needs Support Service)
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Occupational Health/ Therapy
- Complex Needs and Disabilities Teams
Regular reviews ensure children’s support is continually adapted to help them make progress from their starting points.
Our Promise
The Quay offers a structured, nurturing, and therapeutic environment where children are:
- Valued as individuals
- Supported to grow in confidence and resilience
- Included as part of the St Frideswide community
All whole-school policies, including behaviour, apply to our Resource Base provision.
The Quay: A safe harbour where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Email: thequay@stfrideswides.co.uk
Tel: 01865 509444
