Cornerstone Learning CIC
Cornerstone Learning CIC is a Hampshire County Council registered alternative provision offering bespoke, therapeutic support for children with additional needs. We provide a calm, nurturing environment where children can build confidence, develop communication skills, and engage with learning. Our child-led, play-based approach supports the development of social and play skills, alongside emotional regulation, and is tailored to each individual through structured and flexible activities.
Referral Process
Referrals are taken through parents, schools and the EHCCO or SNO at the local auhtority.
Letter of Assurance
Can this setting provide a letter of assurance for the information provided here?
Quality Assurance Lists
This setting reports it is featured on the following lists:
Safeguarding and Welfare of Children
At Cornerstone Learning CIC, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing a safe, secure, and nurturing environment where all children and young people feel protected and supported.
We maintain high standards of site safety through robust risk assessments, secure premises, and clear procedures for arrivals, departures, and supervision. All staff receive regular safeguarding training, including child protection, recognising signs of abuse, and appropriate reporting procedures, ensuring they are confident in responding to any concerns.
Our safeguarding policies and procedures are clearly communicated to all staff and are regularly reviewed in line with current guidance and best practice. We promote a culture of openness and vigilance, where concerns are shared promptly and acted upon appropriately.
Cornerstone Learning works closely with families, schools, local authorities, and external professionals to ensure a joined-up approach to safeguarding. We actively engage with relevant agencies to support the wellbeing and safety of each child, ensuring their needs are understood and met effectively.
Health and Safety
We place a strong emphasis on Health and Safety across our provision. We maintain a safe physical environment through regular risk assessments, daily safety checks, and clear procedures for managing hazards. Staff are trained in key areas such as first aid, fire safety, and risk management, and are confident in responding to incidents or emergencies.
We ensure appropriate staff-to-child ratios at all times, with careful supervision tailored to individual needs. Clear procedures are in place for administering medication, managing accidents, and responding to medical needs.
We also promote a culture of safety and wellbeing, where children are supported to understand and manage risks appropriately within a structured and secure environment.
Additional Standards:
Is a public liability policy active and displayed within the provision?
Yes – this standard is being met.
Admissions Support and Guidance
Cornerstone Learning CIC offers a flexible and supportive admissions process to ensure that each placement is appropriate and meets the individual needs of the child or young person. Referrals are welcomed from local authorities, schools, and families, and we work closely with all involved to gather relevant information prior to placement.
Where possible, we offer visits and transition sessions to support a smooth and positive start. We take time to build relationships, understand each child’s strengths, needs, and interests, and ensure that provision is carefully tailored from the outset.
Once on placement, each child receives an individualised programme designed to support their social, emotional, communication, and play skills, as well as their ability to engage in learning. We place a strong emphasis on emotional regulation and wellbeing, adapting support in response to each child’s progress.
We provide ongoing guidance and regular communication with families, schools, and professionals to ensure a joined-up approach. Progress is monitored and reviewed, with strategies shared to promote consistency across settings.
Our aim is to create a positive, supportive experience where children feel safe, understood, and able to develop the skills they need to succeed both within and beyond the provision.
Induction Processes
At Cornerstone Learning CIC, we recognise that starting a new provision can feel overwhelming for children, so we place great importance on a gradual, supportive induction process tailored to each individual.
Prior to starting, we gather detailed information from families, schools, and professionals to understand the child’s needs, preferences, communication style, and any potential anxieties. Where appropriate, we offer visits or transition sessions to help the child become familiar with the environment and key staff.
Induction is flexible and paced according to the child’s readiness. This may begin with short visits, building up to longer sessions as the child becomes more comfortable. We use visual supports, individual schedules, and consistent routines to help children understand what to expect and feel secure.
Key staff are introduced early to build trusting relationships, and we focus on creating a positive first experience through child-led, engaging activities based on the child’s interests. We are responsive to each child’s emotional regulation needs, adapting the environment and expectations to reduce anxiety.
Throughout the induction process, we maintain close communication with families and referring professionals, sharing updates and working collaboratively to ensure a smooth and successful transition into the provision.
Quality of Education
At Cornerstone Learning CIC, we provide a high-quality, personalised curriculum that is carefully tailored to meet the individual needs of each child or young person. Our approach is rooted in a therapeutic, child-led model that prioritises engagement, wellbeing, and readiness to learn.
We design individualised programmes based on a thorough understanding of each child’s strengths, needs, and interests. Learning is delivered through a combination of structured activities and play-based experiences, with a strong focus on developing communication, social interaction, play skills, and emotional regulation.
Our curriculum is flexible and responsive, enabling children to progress at their own pace. We place particular emphasis on building the foundational skills that support learning, such as attention, engagement, and resilience. Where appropriate, we incorporate elements of functional skills and preparation for reintegration into school or other settings.
Progress is monitored regularly through observation and assessment, allowing us to adapt support and ensure meaningful outcomes. We work closely with families, schools, and other professionals to ensure consistency and to support the generalisation of skills across environments.
Staff are experienced and trained in supporting children with additional needs, and ongoing professional development ensures that our practice remains informed by current research and best practice.
Our aim is to provide an inclusive, engaging, and supportive therapeutic experience that enables every child to build confidence, develop key life skills, and achieve their full potential.
Specialist Staffing
At Cornerstone Learning CIC, our team brings a range of specialist skills, training, and experience to support children with additional needs effectively.
Our staff are trained in supporting children with social, emotional, and communication needs, including those with autism and related profiles. We utilise a therapeutic, trauma-informed, child-led approach informed by evidence-based practices, including principles of behaviour analysis, play-based learning, and relational approaches.
Team members receive ongoing training in key areas such as safeguarding, positive behaviour support, emotional regulation, communication strategies, and supporting sensory needs. Many staff are skilled in the use of visual supports, individual schedules, and alternative communication methods to promote understanding and independence.
We have staff with experience working across education and therapy, enabling us to provide well-rounded and adaptable support. Regular supervision and continuous professional development ensure that staff maintain high standards of practice and remain responsive to the evolving needs of the children we support.
We also work collaboratively with external professionals, such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists, to ensure that each child benefits from a holistic and integrated approach.
SEND Support
At Cornerstone Learning CIC, we specialise in supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), providing a highly individualised and therapeutic approach to learning and development.
We recognise that every child has a unique profile of strengths and needs, and our provision is carefully tailored to reflect this. We support a wide range of needs, including autism, social communication differences, emotional and behavioural needs, and sensory processing differences.
Our approach focuses on building strong, trusting relationships and creating a safe, predictable environment where children feel understood and supported. We use child-led, play-based learning alongside structured activities to develop key areas such as communication, social interaction, play skills, and emotional regulation.
We implement individual support strategies, including visual schedules, now-and-next boards, and personalised routines to promote understanding and reduce anxiety. Sensory-informed practice is embedded throughout the provision, with adaptations made to the environment and activities to meet each child’s sensory needs.
We place a strong emphasis on emotional wellbeing and co-regulation, supporting children to develop self-awareness and strategies to manage their emotions. Positive behaviour support approaches are used to understand and respond to behaviours in a consistent and supportive way.
We work closely with families, schools, and external professionals to ensure a joined-up approach, sharing strategies and supporting consistency across settings. Our aim is to empower each child to develop the skills, confidence, and independence they need to thrive.
Testimonials
Parents have commented on the nurturing and individualised approach, for example:
“Cornerstone has made such a difference to our child. They now feel safe, understood, and are beginning to communicate in ways we hadn’t seen before.”
Schools and professionals value the collaborative working and consistency of support:
“The team at Cornerstone really understand the child’s needs and provide strategies that can be used across settings. We’ve seen clear progress in both engagement and emotional regulation.”
