The Harbour at Dolphin School
Published by Dolphin School on Sunday 5th of July 2026
The Harbour at Dolphin School
September 2026
At the heart of our school, The Harbour is a place of safe anchorage, reflecting our Christian commitment to care for every child. Here, pupils with additional needs are held steady through times of challenge, receiving skilled and compassionate support, with teaching carefully tailored to how they learn best, so that they grow in confidence and sail forward to flourish in their education.
The Harbour at Dolphin School has been designed to strengthen local provision for children with SEND and to ensure that families in Battersea can access high quality SEND support close to home. We recognise the importance of early, specialist intervention for pupils with autism who may have co-occurring social, emotional and mental health and communication needs, and we are ready to play a meaningful role in meeting this local priority.
We have a long term commitment to inclusion, a strong belief in the value of community-based provision and a clear understanding of the responsibilities involved in hosting an enhanced resource base. We have a strong track record of supporting pupils with additional learning needs, including those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), who will continue to be fully included within the mainstream school. Building on this foundation, we have the ethos, expertise and capacity to extend an enhanced provision to agreater number of pupils.
We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and therapeutically informed environment in which pupils can thrive, underpinned by skilled staff, specialist input and close partnership with families and multi-agency colleagues.
The Harbour is a specialist resource base for children aged four to nine whose autism, social communication needs or co‑occurring social emotional or language‑related barriers currently prevent them from accessing learning successfully in a mainstream classroom. The provision offers early, specialist intervention that enables pupils to re‑engage with learning, develop effective regulation skills and transition confidently into appropriate mainstream pathways. It is grounded in emotionally informed practice and designed to be fully supportive of children’s communication needs.
Cohort and Admissions
● Admission age: 4 - 9 (depending on pupil’s needs)
● Primary needs: Autism, social communication needs, SEMH and language‑related barriers
● It is not designed for pupils with severe/profound learning needs, high-risk behaviours requiring specialist or therapeutic school settings or primary needs that require medical or intensive clinical provision
● Fees: £16,000 a term & VAT
● Admissions: Local Authority placement will be agreed in accordance with Wandsworth banding and placement procedures alongside the Dolphin School admission process. There will also be an opportunity for part-funded and privately-funded places.
Transitions
A structured, multi‑agency transition programme ensuring pupils move on successfully, with early planning, joint observations, detailed transition profiles and follow‑up support for receiving schools.
Pupils will typically:
● Transition to mainstream school (with or without additional support)
● Transfer to a more appropriate specialist provision where needs indicate
Exit decisions will be based on:
● progress against EHCP / IEP outcomes
● readiness for mainstream engagement
● emotional regulation and attendance
● multi-agency review
Expected length of placement: typically 4-8 terms, with flexibility based on need. Integration approach: 60% specialist teaching, 40% supported mainstream inclusion (flexible depending on individual child’s needs). There will be an aim to integrate pupils into the mainstream setting during unstructured and sport time where appropriate for individual pupils.
The Harbour is committed to ensuring that pupils thrive when they move on. There is a comprehensive transition programme which would include early planning with families and receiving settings.
The programme would also include opportunities for pupils to practise key skills to support independence and emotional readiness. Follow up support would be available in the first term to ensure that pupils settle well and that receiving schools feel confident in sustaining effective provision.
Supportive Environment
The Harbour provides a carefully designed environment that prioritises co‑regulation, emotional safety and sensory recovery. Pupils benefit from clearly zoned areas that support different levels of arousal, including calm low stimulation spaces, movement and active zones, and social relational areas.
A wide range of sensory support is readily available. Predictable routines are established through visual schedules, ‘first then’ boards and low demand transitions, helping pupils to feel secure and prepared.
Environmental adjustments are made to reduce sensory load, with careful attention to acoustics, lighting and the creation of clutter free, calming spaces.
Emotionally literate, trauma‑attuned provision
Staff are trained in relevant approaches and work within a relational safety model. Pupils are supported by consistent, experienced key adults who act as co‑regulators and provide an attachment informed anchor throughout the day.
There is an emphasis on helping pupils understand, name and manage their emotions.
Language used across the provision is intentionally considered to ensure that every interaction upholds the dignity, emotional safety and trust of the child.
Autism‑Informed Pedagogy and Support
The provision draws on evidence-based structured teaching approaches, supported by sensory profiles for every pupil that are co produced with families to ensure an accurate understanding of individual needs.
Communication systems are flexible and responsive, enabling pupils to access learning and express themselves in ways that are meaningful to them. Curriculum pathways are adapted to maintain ambition while reducing unnecessary cognitive load, ensuring that pupils can engage successfully and make sustained progress.
Planning is strength-based and recognises autistic identity and neurodiversity, promoting a positive, respectful and inclusive learning experience for every child.
Integrated External Professional Therapeutic Input
The Harbour provides an integrated, therapy-informed model, combining direct specialist input with daily embedded practice.
Indicative Therapy Input, depending on needs (per pupil, per term):
● Speech and Language Therapy
● Occupational Therapy
● Targeted SEMH support / counselling: based on individual need
Delivery Model:
● Direct assessment and intervention
● Small group and individual sessions
● Staff coaching to embed strategies throughout the school day
● Contribution to EHCP outcomes and reviews
Therapeutic input is closely integrated with classroom practice, ensuring consistency and maximising impact.
Staffing & Expertise
The Harbour will be staffed by:
● 1 Specialist Teacher (SENDCo-qualified or equivalent experience)
● Learning Support Assistants (number to be determined by number of pupils)
● 1 additional SEN Teacher when second room opened
Additional support includes:
● oversight from senior leadership
● regular supervision and training for staff
During mainstream integration periods, staffing is flexed to ensure:
● safe and meaningful inclusion
● continuity of relational support
Physical Environment
The provision will initially have capacity for two classrooms, each accommodating up to eight pupils, supported by small group rooms that enable targeted intervention and focused learning.
A dedicated sensory and quiet regulation space is available to support emotional recovery and self regulation, alongside access to an outdoor area that promotes access to nature, wellbeing and exploratory play.
The environment meets accessibility requirements and includes a designated entrance to support safe and calm transitions.
The Harbour at Dolphin School Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Harbour?
The Harbour is a specialist enhanced provision within Dolphin School for children aged 4 to 8 whose autism, social communication needs, emotional regulation needs or language-related barriers are currently preventing them from accessing learning successfully within a mainstream classroom.
Our aim is to provide early specialist intervention, helping children build the skills, confidence and independence needed to thrive in education and beyond.
Who is The Harbour designed for?
The Harbour is primarily designed for children with:
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Social communication difficulties
• Emotional regulation needs
• Associated language and communication difficulties
Many children attending The Harbour may have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), although we also anticipate some privately funded and part-funded places.
Is The Habour a specialilst school?
No. The Harbour is a specialist resource base within Dolphin School. It combines the benefits of specialist support with opportunities for carefully planned inclusion within a mainstream school environment.
What makes The Harbour different from a mainstream classroom?
Children benefit from:
• Smaller teaching groups
• Specialist SEND-trained staff
• A highly structured environment
• Individualised learning programmes
• Sensory-informed approaches
• Integrated therapeutic support
• Explicit teaching of communication, social and emotional skills
Everything is designed to reduce barriers to learning and help children experience success.
What is the ultimate goal of The Harbour?
The Harbour is built around the belief that early intervention matters. Our aim is to help children develop the communication, learning, social and emotional skills needed to access increasingly independent learning and, wherever appropriate, transition successfully into mainstream education.
Will my child spend any time in mainstream classes?
Potentially, yes. Each child will have an individual programme. Some pupils may begin with very limited mainstream integration, whilst others may access wider aspects of school life more quickly.
Any inclusion opportunities are carefully planned and tailored to the needs of the individual child.
What therapies are available?
Depending on need, children may have access to:
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Emotional wellbeing and SEMH support
Therapeutic approaches are embedded into daily classroom practice so that support continues throughout the school day rather than being limited to individual sessions.
How many children will be in each class?
The Harbour is designed around small-group teaching.
Initially, each classroom will accommodate up to eight pupils, allowing staff to know every child exceptionally well and provide highly personalised support.
What qualifications and experience do staff have?
The Harbour will be led by specialist staff with expertise in SEND, autism and inclusive education.
Staff receive ongoing professional development and work closely with external professionals, therapists and educational psychologists to ensure best practice remains at the heart of the provision.
How will progress be measured?
Progress is measured holistically and individually.
We look at:
• Academic development
• Communication skills
• Emotional regulation
• Social interaction
• Independence
• EHCP / IEP outcomes
Families receive regular updates and are fully involved in reviewing progress and setting next steps.
How long will my child remain in The Harbour?
Every child is different.
Many pupils may remain in the provision for between four and eight terms, although placement length is always determined by individual need, progress and future pathways.
What happens after The Harbour?
Transition planning begins early.
Children may:
• Move into mainstream education with appropriate support
• Transition into Dolphin's mainstream provision where appropriate
• Transfer to another setting that is best suited to their needs
We work closely with families and receiving schools to ensure successful transitions.
How involved are parents?
Parents are central partners in the process.
We believe that the strongest outcomes are achieved when school and home work closely together. Families are involved in planning, reviews, target setting and decision making throughout their child's journey.
Will my child be understood and accepted?
Absolutely. At the heart of The Harbour is a commitment to seeing each child as an individual with unique strengths, interests and potential.
We celebrate neurodiversity, build upon children's strengths and create an environment where every child feels safe, valued and understood.
What values underpin The Harbour?
The Harbour is rooted in Dolphin School's Christian ethos and values of Love, Wisdom and Truth.
We believe every child is uniquely valuable and deserving of dignity, compassion and the opportunity to flourish. Our provision is open to families of all faiths and none who share our commitment to nurturing the whole child.
How do I find out more?
We encourage families to arrange a visit, meet members of the team and discuss their child's individual needs. Please contact admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk
Choosing the right provision is an important decision and we are always happy to answer questions and explore whether The Harbour would be the right fit for your child.
