The Retreat
Welcome to the Retreat..
At Riverside Primary School, we have a dedicated area in school where pupils can go, supported by an adult, to access a space for learning which suits their individual needs. As children enter the Retreat through the yellow brick road doors, they immediately enter a calm and quiet space, decorated with a woodland theme.
There is a full-length mirror to support pupils' self-esteem and confidence and, alongside this, a Feelings Wall where pupils can look in the mirror to understand their facial expressions and where an adult can then guide them to select how they are feeling at that moment by choosing one of the emotion discs. Pupils can complete regulation activities on our Sensory Wall or enjoy seeing their reflection in our mirror wall.
All of these Regulation Zones support our children to regulate and calm the nervous system so that they are ready to take part in activities and one-to-one work.
Within The Retreat we have two rooms, The Hut and the Cabin.
The Hut
This room has been created to meet the needs of our pupils who experience sensory processing difficulties. It is designed in a specific way to allow for different types of experiences the children need and is equipped with resources which match a range of sensory needs.
This room is also used for our well-established Nurture Groups and where specific programmes for individuals, like Drawing and Talking Therapy, and for small groups, like Communicate and Regulate, take place. Our Young Carers Club also takes place in the Hut every Wednesday lunchtime.
The Cabin
This room is our calm and tranquil space where pupils have the opportunity to complete curriculum learning tasks in a quiet and peaceful environment. It is decorated in neutral tones and is light and spacious, making it ideal for when pupils want to work without distraction from others, noise or colour.
It is furnished with natural materials - wood, bamboo, hessian - and decorated with items made of fur, velour, fleece and velvet. There are sensory floor cushions, beanbags, sofas and throws and a gaming chair. We have standing desks, too. Everything that can meet the learning styles of every individual in our school.
