Who we are
Message from our Headteacher.
Welcome to The Springfields Academy. We are a large special school in Calne, Wiltshire for autistic pupils and pupils with speech, language and communication needs. We are an all-through school, supporting learners from ages 4-19 to build safe, independent lives. Being the Headteacher of Springfields is a privilege- it is an innovative and inspirational place where both children and staff can learn, grow, and develop.
Our talented, multi-disciplinary team work together to ensure all our pupils achieve aspirational outcomes to live a ‘safe, independent life’ beyond Springfields through support, understanding and enablement. Our educational approach is child - centred, we value each pupil’s uniqueness and view each pupil as an individual within our community. We remove barriers to learning and social interaction so that each child can achieve their potential. Our therapy first culture is integral to giving each individual the best foundation for learning and development. We are proud to have our own in-house Therapy Team and bespoke Therapy facilities allowing us to offer a range of therapeutic interventions to meet a range of needs.
Our strength is the diversity of provision we offer, ensuring pupils access the right autism and communication friendly environment to enable them to thrive. Our curriculum pathways are specifically structured and sequenced to ensure pupils have the knowledge and skills they need to know more, remember more and apply this functionally to achieve both academically and, more importantly, to enable them to lead a ‘safe, independent life’ when they leave us.
Pupils who join us in Reception access a specifically designed communication-rich environment that scaffolds their development towards their personalised early learning goals.
As pupils move beyond the foundation stage we have two distinct curriculum pathways:
- Our Discovery Pathway (Semi-Formal Curriculum). This supports our learners who require a developmental curriculum.
- Our Explorer and Pathfinder Pathway (Formal Curriculum) for our learners who benefit from a curriculum that makes reference to the National Curriculum.
Our Personal Development Curriculum is a core part of our provision. Each child accesses a life and living programme from Reception right through to the end of their journey with us linked to the preparation for adulthood agenda. This helps our pupils develop the skills and knowledge necessary for employment, independent living, good health and community participation.
We recognise that our aspirations for our pupils can only be realised by working in partnership with parents and carers. We value a close working relationship for the benefit of your child. We have an ‘open door’ policy to ensure regular communication and information sharing to inform planning and provision for each child to ensure maximum success and achievement.
Our website will give you a glimpse of our educational offer, however we warmly invite you to visit and experience life at Springfields for yourself!
Headteacher (ID 1222)
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Nicola WhitcombeHeadteacher
Nicola Whitcombe
Nicola Whitcombe is proud to be the Headteacher of Springfields. She is a values-led practitioner who inspires others through her relentless focus on championing all young people. An experienced and competent practitioner, Nicola has experience of both mainstream and specialist settings, holding senior leadership positions in both. She is proud to call herself a SENCo and is highly respected for her knowledge and vision of SEND. She holds a range of postgraduate qualifications in autism and SEND and applies this knowledge to strategically lead provision at Springfields. Nicola holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship. She articulates a compelling vision for Quality of Education for SEND learners and has been involved in successful bid writing and interviews for Free Schools and Alternative Provisions in Wiltshire and neighbouring counties.
Nicola’s enthusiasm for SEND enables her to lead with authenticity and integrity. As well as having strong emotional intelligence, Nicola is able to build effective relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders and these are based on mutual respect. She is an expert content creator for The National College, producing three webinars for them alongside written publications. She is a co-founder of A-Fest and a believer in system leadership that benefits the wider neurodivergent community.
Email Nicola Whitcombe, Headteacher
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