Compassionate child-led learning through play
Case study: Jack
Four year old Jack began to attend our Early Years sessions in Farnborough, after he was unable to complete his final year at a mainstream pre-school, due to emotional burnout and autistic overwhelm. His parents were also in the middle of an exhausting tribunal for a specialist school place. Jack's mum talks about how Cornerstone Learning CIC provided Jack with a supportive, child-led, nurturing environment, so he learnt to feel safe in a setting with other children again - and made huge progress developmentally along the way
Becoming 'school-ready'
"My son attended Cornerstone CIC's alternative provision from September 2024 to April 2025, and it has been a truly transformative experience for him. We initially turned to Cornerstone because, despite our initial efforts, we were unable to secure a suitable school place for him that could meet his specific educational needs. We were in the midst of a Tribunal process, aiming to secure a place for him in a resourced provision class within a mainstream school, but during this time, Cornerstone provided the vital support he needed.
​
From day one, Carina and the team at Cornerstone went above and beyond to create a safe, nurturing space where my son could work towards becoming 'school-ready'. They developed individualised targets tailored to his needs, which resulted in significant progress, particularly in social interactions, his speech and language development, and turn-taking. The structured sessions, which for example, included interactive story-time with books like Room on the Broom and The Hungry Caterpillar, helped him engage with both the content and his peers in a fun and supportive way."
An ideal setting for SEN children
"The setting itself is ideal for SEN children. The building is in a quiet, secure location with excellent facilities, ample outdoor space and dedicated parking right outside. It felt calm and well-organised. Each session also included dedicated outdoor time, where the children could use age-appropriate play equipment to burn off energy, in a completely secure area —something my son really did benefit from!"
Helping make sense of 'transitions'
"In particular, one of the most important areas of support he required was help to make sense of ‘transitions’. He had significant challenges moving from one activity to another, and this often left him feeling overwhelmed and emotional. Over the two terms he attended, the team worked diligently with him on this, and the improvement has been remarkable. By the end of his time at Cornerstone, his transitions were noticeably smoother, and he was much more comfortable moving on from an activity. It was so lovely to see him excited to leave the house for his sessions in the mornings, and proved that the team’s approach was working very well.
​
We are so grateful to Carina and the entire Cornerstone team for their dedication and support. They have made a huge difference in our son's development and have provided him with the foundation he needs to thrive as he moves forward in his educational journey."
Written by Jack's Mum