At Ridgeway, we have an informal internal provision called The Hive. We are not a specialist setting and not recognised as a formal Enhanced Resource base for Leicestershire. The Hive has been running since 2023 and is not focussed on a particular area of need due to its creation meeting the needs of children in school at that time. Since then, it continues to evolve, currently catering for mixed ages, we have children access this provision from years 1-5 and varying needs.

Our Vision for The Hive 

At Ridgeway Primary Academy, we are committed to ‘Forging Exceptional Individuals’. We maintain high expectations for every pupil, valuing and celebrating the unique strengths, backgrounds, and experiences they bring to our community. Our priority is to deliver a personalised education that meets individual needs, ensuring that all learners are supported to grow, succeed and reach their full potential. We create a nurturing environment that encourages positive attitudes towards learning, forming the foundation for achievement and success.

We recognise that pupils learn in different ways. Some thrive through play-based experiences, others through practical and functional learning, while some respond best to topic-based approaches. Our curriculum is informed by the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which extends beyond age five to support pupils working up to the end of Year 1 expectations. However, teaching approaches are carefully adapted to reflect each pupil’s age, stage of development, and preferred learning style. We then use the National Curriculum to continue the children's learning journey.

Our curriculum promotes holistic development, supporting pupils’ academic, personal, social and physical growth. We also value the role of extracurricular opportunities in enriching learning and widening experiences. We aim for pupils to be involved as possible with school life. Progress towards individual targets is embedded across the entire school day, including during breaktimes, playtimes, off-site visits, personal care routines, and mealtimes. We believe that every moment presents an opportunity for learning.

Inclusion is central to our ethos, and we are dedicated to enabling every pupil to achieve their potential. We see education as a lifelong journey, equipping our learners with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for future opportunities.

To achieve this, we work in close partnership with all stakeholders to create a personalised learning journey. This includes taking into account the views of pupils and parents, as well as EHCP recommendations and intended outcomes.

Partnership with the Mainstream

The majority of pupils in The Hive access their mainstream classes for over 50% of their timetable. This is imperative in our vision for Hive pupils. We recognise the value of inclusion within the whole school community and the importance of shared experiences for all pupils. Children from the Hive will attend mainstream lessons where appropriate, taking into consideration a child’s individual needs and wishes. Pupils may also have opportunities to work alongside their mainstream peers during interventions. 

‍Teaching and Learning

We adopt a flexible, child-centred approach to education, using a wide range of teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of our pupils. Lessons are carefully adapted to ensure that individual targets are consistently woven into the curriculum, alongside personalised learning opportunities and targeted interventions. Throughout the school day, pupils engage in a variety of learning contexts, including small group work, one-to-one support, and whole-class teaching, helping to develop confidence, resilience, and independence.

Within the Hive, pupils access both the Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum, delivered in a way that is developmentally appropriate. The curriculum is thoughtfully adapted to ensure it meets the individual needs of every child.

We maintain high expectations for all pupils, who make strong progress from their starting points. Progress and daily learning are captured through Tapestry observations, alongside more formal evidence recorded in learning journeys and exercise books.

It is not possible for parents to apply for a place in the Hive or name the Hive on an EHCP. It currently is at the discretion of the school as to which children access this provision. Due to being a mainstream school and all applications to our school are for this mainstream education we only currently have children in the Hive from Year 1 upwards.