Pond Meadow Academy Trust

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Pond Meadow Academy Trust

Equipping our learners for life. An outstanding specials needs school in Guildford.

30/09/2026

Mealtimes should feel safe, comfortable and inclusive for every learner.
Surrey County Council Speech and Language Therapy team works with our school staff to support students with dysphagia through practical guidance, personalised strategies and training.
Dysphagia means difficulty with eating, drinking or swallowing. It can affect how safely a student manages food, drinks or saliva and may increase the risk of choking.
By recommending the right food textures and drink thicknesses for each learner, the team helps reduce risk and make school mealtimes safer and more comfortable—supporting every student to take part with confidence.
It’s all part of working together to help our learners feel supported throughout the school day.

29/09/2026

About Us
As we begin a new school year, we wanted to share a little more about who we are.
Pond Meadow is a specialist school in Guildford for children and young people aged 3–19 with Autism, Communication and Interaction Needs and/or Severe Learning Disabilities.
Our vision is simple: Equipping Learners for Life. With specialist approaches and a caring, structured environment, we support every pupil to learn in the way that works best for them.
We celebrate each learner’s strengths, nurture independence and work closely with families and schools to help more children and young people thrive.

22/09/2026

Last week Pond Meadow was proud to take part in Jeans for Genes, supporting children and families affected by genetic conditions.
Pupils and staff were invited to wear their jeans and come together as a school community to raise awareness and show our support.

16/09/2026

Say hello to Tilly and Bernie 🐾
After saying goodbye to our lively Pepper last term, we’re excited to welcome two new therapy dogs to the Pond Meadow team — Tilly and Bernie!
They’ll begin their training over the coming months and, once ready, will join Jax and Maddie in supporting our pupils’ wellbeing, emotional regulation and learning across the school. Therapy dogs play such an important role in helping our pupils build confidence, reduce anxiety and develop positive relationships — and we can’t wait for everyone to meet our newest four-legged team members.

14/09/2026

OUTDOOR LEARNING
At Pond Meadow, outdoor learning is an important part of how we help our learners build confidence, independence and curiosity about the world around them.
Even as the weather begins to turn, we continue to look for safe and meaningful ways to get outside — whether that’s exploring the school grounds, noticing seasonal changes or visiting local parks.

These experiences support communication, movement, sensory exploration and real-life skills. Every walk, visit and outdoor activity is another opportunity to learn, take part and grow — helping us equip our learners for life.

08/09/2026

Mini Meadows is back for autumn — and we can’t wait to welcome you!
Join us tomorrow, 9 September, for our first Mini Meadows session of the new school year.

These friendly stay-and-play sessions are designed for pre-school children with SEN, or children who are on the pathway to diagnosis.
Little ones can enjoy free play, structured activities and a complimentary snack, while parents and carers have the chance to connect with other local families.

A huge thank you to for helping make these sessions possible through their generous funding.

07/09/2026

WELCOME BACK!
A very warm welcome back to all of our wonderful students, families and staff.
We are so excited to begin a new school year together, filled with learning, friendship, growth and new opportunities to shine.
At Pond Meadow, every step forward matters. We can’t wait to celebrate each achievement, big or small, as our learners continue to build confidence, independence and joy in the year ahead.
Here’s to a positive, happy and inspiring start to the new term.

01/09/2026

Playing outside can support children in so many ways. It can help reduce anxiety, build gross motor skills and offer a calming space to support sensory regulation.
Here are four simple ways to encourage outdoor play:
-Create a quiet space: a small tent or a shady spot under a tree can give children somewhere calm to reset.
-Try messy play: set up outdoor sensory play with mud kitchens, sand, water or natural materials.
-Offer gentle guidance: help children choose how they play to reduce frustration and encourage independence.
-Follow the child’s interests: use chalk for sorting games, bug-hunting kits for nature lovers, or add favourite toys and topics, like plastic dinosaurs or animals.

25/08/2026

PREPARING FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL
The start of a new school year can bring lots of feelings, and returning after the summer holidays can be a big change for our students.
A little preparation at home can help children feel more settled and ready for the routine ahead.
You might like to gently support the transition by:
-Talking about what will happen on their first day of school
-Looking at photo boards and talking about the students and staff they will be with
-Exploring school uniform and practising getting dressed
-Establishing regular sleep and wake routines
Starting with small steps now can help make the move from home to school feel calmer and more familiar.

24/08/2026

Reading is a wonderful way to support learning, communication and imagination over the summer holidays.
Whether reading together, looking through picture books or listening to a story, these small moments can help build confidence, language skills and independence.
Here are a few simple ways to support reading at home:
1. Take books outside and read together under a tree.
2. Try making reading part of your daily routine. As well as a bedtime story, you could set a story time each day.
3. Visit your local library.
4. Try audiobooks — listening to a story together can be just as enjoyable.
5. Remember, comics and magazines count too.
6. Keep reading sessions short, relaxed and frequent.

Address

Guildford

Website

http://www.pond-meadow.surrey.sch.uk/

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