The Acorn Centre is a Specialist Resource Provision attached to both The Oaks Infant School and Minterne Junior School. The Acorn Centre supports children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who require a highly specialist provision for their speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). In exceptional cases, the provision may be offered as part of an initial plan to determine pupil’s individual needs.

Children admitted to The Acorn Centre will have a primary diagnosis of a Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) (formerly known as specific language impairment (SLI)) or a speech disorder. Children below the age of five will have a primary diagnosis of a potential Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

There will be evidence that their profile of need requires specialist provision including intensive speech and language therapy and specialist teaching to be jointly planned and delivered by the specialist team.

As part of an Education, Health and Care Plan assessment, a child may be identified as suitable for the provision. In this case the relevant Kent SEN officer will arrange for the child to be discussed at a local authority panel meeting.  Once deemed appropriate, the consultation paperwork will be sent to the school for consideration.

Children with an existing Education Health and Care Plan may be identified as appropriate for a place in The Acorn Centre through their Annual Review. In this case the child’s current school should make the relevant Kent SEN officer aware of the request for a change in provision/placement and if appropriate he/she will arrange for a panel discussion.

The decision to offer the provision will be taken by the relevant SEN Manager in consultation with the specialist team in The Acorn Centre and the Headteacher of The Oaks Infant School or Minterne Junior School.