Ruardean C of E Primary School is unique in the Forest of Dean as we have an attached Communication and Interaction Centre as part of our school. Firs provides an education for pupils who need more targetted support with their communication and interaction and/or Autism. Pupils in Firs are an integral part of our school community and integrate regularly with pupils in the mainstream. This allows all pupils at our school to flourish and learn in an inclusive environment.

What is a Communication and Interaction Centre?

A Communication and Interaction Centre is a specialist unit attached to a mainsteam school. Children who have profound communication and interaction difficulties and have already got an EHCP are considered for a place at a C and I Centre.  Children are cognitively able and follow the National Curriculum as their mainstream peers, but need some extra help with communication and interaction. 

What does a day in a Communication and Interaction Centre look like on a daily basis?

All children have personalised provision depending on their needs. Some of their day is spent in the C and I Centre and some is spent in the mainstream. We aim to integrate children into mainstream , so they can benefit from all that school has to offer.

A typical day would start with some regulation activities - this could be reading a book or doing a puzzle. Children in Firs join the rest of the school for our daily worship. Some children will start their phonics sessions before moving on to Maths and English with the C and I team. We work in small groups with specialist staff, who work really hard to overcome children's learning barriers, so they can access the curriculum. Children spend lunch and playtime with their mainstream and Firs friends. We always have a member of the C and I team out on the playground just to help children navigate a busy playground. 

What else can a Communication and Interaction Centre provide?

The children that attend the C and I Centre, can experience difficulties with navigating the world around them. We work with children on things they find difficult by providing a warm, friendly, accepting  environment, where they can grow in confidence. Sometimes children need groups to learn social skills and opportunities to practise those social skills with the support of the adults around them,