Welcome to

Inspiration KS1 & KS2

About Inspiration

iCollege Inspiration is located at Foxglove Way, Thatcham RG18 4DH and provides short term education placements for KS1 & KS2 learners in West Berkshire who are struggling to access a mainstream provision.

This includes learners who are looking for reintegration back to mainstream schooling following a permanent exclusion and those who have received an extended fixed term exclusion. iCollege Inspiration also offers an in-reach service to mainstream schools providing reactive provision to improve mainstream engagement or to support learners with Special Educational Needs transition to a specialist school placement.

iCollege Inspiration is a small school with three classrooms, a sensory room and an outdoor play area, we only cater for 12 learners at a time, and this ensures that their learning needs are met quickly and effectively. All staff members are highly experienced and are fully committed to our objective of supporting all learners to enjoy learning.

We provide bespoke packages, including core subjects and a wide variety of engaging alternative educational opportunities, to meet individual learner needs. Our learners will benefit from a fully differentiated curriculum that supports their academic, behavioural, social and emotional development. We primarily focus upon a learner’s well-being and the skills of learning. We offer all of our learners the opportunity to work with the Emotional Health Academy. Our aim is to help learners be better equipped to move on and to ultimately succeed in a school setting appropriate to their needs.

Curriculum @ Inspiration

Curriculum Offer 

Inspiration’s curriculum is designed to re-engage children in learning, rebuild confidence, and address gaps caused by disrupted education. It aims to re-teach children how and why we learn, encouraging curiosity, resilience, and the confidence to learn from mistakes and supports learners to take ownership of their learning.  Staff and learners celebrate progress and small achievements and aim to make education enjoyable, accessible, inclusive and engaging whilst developing the skills and strategies to support successful reintegration into a suitable school setting. 

Many learners come to Inspiration with significant adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) which can lead to emotional dysregulation. To this end, teaching is driven by a trauma informed approach and underpinned by our core values:  

Acceptance - Kindness - Responsibility - Perseverance - Aspiration 

Inspiration prioritises wellbeing, mindfulness, and the development of a growth mindset, alongside adaptive strategies for emotional regulation and resilience. 

The curriculum is rooted in the National Curriculum and delivered through a four-year rolling programme using a thematic approach. Core subjects include: 

• English (including Monster Phonics) 

• Mathematics 

• Science 

These core subjects are complemented by PE, RE, Art, Design & Technology, History, Geography, and ICT which are delivered through a cross-curricular model that allows for adaptive grouping and personalised pathways. 

‘Engagement Curriculum’ Offer 

 “Learning to Learn”  

For some learners, especially those with significant SEMH or developmental needs, a formal subject-based curriculum is not yet the right starting point. These children follow Inspiration’s Engagement Curriculum, which is built from the KS1 long-term plans but delivered in a way that matches their stage of emotional, sensory, and relational development.  

Learning is organised through thematic units linked to the KS1 curriculum, with activities carefully adapted to ensure access and success and inclusion. Learners experience a higher ratio of sensory, play-based, and exploratory tasks, using adaptive teaching, so that they can reach their learning intentions within a calm, structured environment that supports regulation and predictable routines.  

This approach helps children develop the early foundations of learning—such as curiosity, communication, persistence, confidence, and the ability to regulate with adult support. As learners become more settled and ready for sustained engagement, they are gradually introduced to more formal elements of the curriculum at a pace and depth that is right for them.  

The aim is always the same: to provide each child with a pathway into learning that feels safe, meaningful, and achievable. The curriculum will be delivered through six learning areas.

Personal Development and Wellbeing 

The provision of personal development opportunities is central to the curriculum offer at Inspiration of which Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education play a key role. 
PSHE lessons are a vital component of the learners’ timetable, but this area is also, supported by the ‘Emotional Health Academy.’ In addition, spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development (SMSC) is embedded throughout the curriculum along with a promotion of British Values, where Inspiration places a strong emphasis on mutual respect and tolerance. Careers education is supported by attendance at an annual iCollege Careers and Community event alongside the software program ‘Unifrog.’ 

Recognising the value of outdoor and experiential learning environments, Inspiration is immensely proud of its Forest School Curriculum which aims to maximise engagement, promote health and wellbeing, and build independence, self-esteem and risk-taking learning in a safe controlled and inclusive environment.  The local community and outdoor spaces are also used as active learning opportunities, fostering responsibility and citizenship. 

Ultimately, Inspiration aims to support children to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful transition into their next educational setting and beyond.