'The Harbour' at Spring Meadow - An SEMH Alternative Provision for the children of Harwich

On 29th September 2023, we celebrated the opening of The Harbour at Spring Meadow. This event was attended by staff, governors, Harwich Headteachers, ex governors, ex staff, representatives of the Council and Local Authority along with other friends of Spring Meadow.

The Harbour was officially opened by Councillor Ivan Henderson following speeches by Mrs Patrick (Headteacher) and Ralph Holloway (Head of SEND Strategy and Innovation).

About The Harbour at Spring Meadow

The Harbour is an alternative education provision for young children, aged 4 to 11,  whose progression in their current school is of concern due to barriers caused by behaviour, emotional well-being needs or social difficulties. Some of these children will have had early childhood trauma and attachment difficulties, some will have other diagnosed difficulties such as ADHD.

The Harbour signifies a safe haven; a calm environment for children to grow and develop.  The provision is based upon the GROW Model which is grounded in research and applied widely across Alternative Provisions in Essex Schools.

The Harbour offers time limited placements to children who are at risk of exclusion, or who need an alternative curriculum that cannot be offered  at their own school.  Our priority is to ensure that children in The Harbour are nurtured and supported,  to enable them to develop a sense of belonging, and experience the power of positive relationships.

Children who attend The Harbour have a personalised curriculum designed to meet their SEMH needs.  We aim to develop key skills through providing a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment, which  provides ways around the barriers to learning that the children may have.  The objective is to enable the children to move back to their mainstream school with strategies to regulate their emotions and the ability to make progress with their learning.  On occasions, if it is felt more appropriate, children may be transitioned into a specialist setting.

For pupils, The Harbour will:

•  facilitate access to education in their local community at a time when their SEMH needs are at their highest.
• support pupils to become more emotionally literate, more self-aware and able to self-regulate
• help children learn to use their curiosity constructively, improve self-esteem, understand their emotions and the effects this can have on their body and actions 
• develop confidence and a sense of connection and belonging through the development of close and trusting relationships.
• reduce the likelihood of repeated fixed term suspensions or permanent exclusion from their primary school
• support pupils to reintegrate successfully back into their referring, ‘home’ school or to transition to an appropriate specialist provision
• prepare pupils with SEMH difficulties to successfully transfer to a mainstream secondary school provision

For parents / carers, The Harbour will:

• empower parents to have greater involvement in their children’s education and to develop their capacity to support their child’s development and progress
• work in partnership with school staff, outside agencies, other settings and parents to develop and plan a consistent approach to be used both at school and at home.

 For referring primary schools, The Harbour will:

•  work in partnership with school staff, outside agencies, other settings and parents to develop and plan a consistent approach to be used both at ‘The Harbour’ and back in the referring school
• work closely with the referring to schools to develop and implement a transition plan to support successful reintegration back into school
• provide training and outreach support to  increase the capacity of Harwich schools to successfully meet the needs of pupils with SEMH