The Ashley Child Development Centre is a purpose-built facility dedicated to supporting children in South Tyneside who experience significant delays in one or more areas of learning. Designed specifically for children in the Foundation Stage, the centre provides tailored interventions to help every child achieve their full potential.

Our highly skilled team includes a teacher, a higher-level teaching assistant, and a teaching assistant, ensuring a high adult-to-child ratio for maximum individual support.

At Ashley Child Development Centre, we work collaboratively with Parents/Carers, mainstream settings, and a range of professionals to identify each child's strengths and needs. Together, we develop targeted interventions to support learning and promote positive outcomes.

Admissions to the centre are managed through a multi-agency admissions panel. Referrals are made by mainstream settings following consultation with the child's Parents/Carers. The panel also discusses referrals for the Sue Hedley Provision.

Children attend the centre on a part-time basis:

• • Reception children attend two full days per week.
  • Nursery children attend two half days per week, with the option for full days if appropriate.
    Attendance is typically for one or two terms, although the duration is flexible to accommodate each child's individual needs and circumstances.
  • 2 Year Old children there is a consultation to change the academy’s age range that will end in January 2025.  The Centre has had requests to take younger pupils from various settings.  This is something we would like to support in recognition of the significant needs within the sector.  

At the Ashley Child Development Centre, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, which underpins all areas of learning and development. Our curriculum is designed to be flexible and responsive, ensuring that each child receives a developmentally appropriate and engaging learning experience. We are particularly focused on oracy-based learning, as we recognise the importance of developing strong communication skills from an early age. Through high-quality interactions, we encourage children to express themselves, build their vocabulary, and develop social and emotional communication skills in a supportive environment.

Our approach to oracy is embedded throughout the daily activities and interactions, ensuring that children are given rich opportunities to talk, listen, and engage in meaningful conversations. Staff use open-ended questions, model language, and support children’s speech and language development in all aspects of their learning. This approach not only enhances language acquisition but also fosters children’s confidence in expressing themselves, developing their thinking skills, and engaging with others.

The curriculum is also shaped by a child-centred approach, where planning is based on the individual needs and interests of the children. To guide this process, staff in mainstream settings complete the ‘Ranges’ documentation, which highlights the child’s current strengths and areas for development. This documentation ensures that we can tailor our interventions and support to promote progress across all areas of learning.

To ensure that every child receives the best possible support, Individual Intervention Plans are created for each child. These plans are developed through the graduated approach of assess, plan, do, and review, and are continuously reviewed to ensure the child’s progress is tracked and interventions remain effective.

Early identification of developmental delays or emerging needs is crucial for setting children on a path to success. Our team works closely with parents, carers, and other professionals to provide early, targeted support for children who may benefit from additional interventions at this stage. The consultation process for younger children helps to ensure that appropriate interventions are in place as early as possible, allowing for a smoother transition into the Foundation Stage and beyond.

Through a balance of structured activities and child-initiated learning, we promote all areas of development: communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, physical development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. By integrating high-quality interactions, oracy-rich environments, and flexible, outcome-focused planning, we aim to create a foundation that allows each child to reach their full potential.

We place a strong emphasis on building meaningful partnerships with Parents/Carers. Your insights into your child’s needs, interests, and abilities are invaluable in shaping their learning journey. Collaboration is central to our practice, ensuring the best possible outcomes for each child.

Contact Name
Tony Irvine (Headteacher) 
Catherine Capeling (ACDC manager) 

E-mail
Ashley@wiseacademies.co.uk
Telephone: 0191 4564977