Gems is a Specialist Resource Provision for children with social communication difficulties (including autism) and mild to moderate learning difficulties. Every child who attends Gems is part of The Vineyard community. Our Vineyard Values are for all children to be caring, curious and courageous and these values apply to our pupils in Gems as they learn and develop throughout their time at The Vineyard.

Gems opened in September 2023, and we will be growing in numbers each year as we welcome more children (see table below). 

School Year	Total Pupils
2023/24	4
2024/25	6
2025/26	8
2026/27	10
2027/28	12
2028/29	14

Our classrooms provide low arousal, structured, focused learning environments. We also have spaces to develop social interaction and play skills. There is a sensory room on-site to provide a calm environment, in which pupils can relax and regulate themselves. Children are supported by experienced teachers and teaching assistants. Staff are trained in key strategies to enable them to effectively support and teach children with additional needs. We work closely with external agencies, including Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapists, as well as families, to develop a holistic therapeutic approach. 

Our Curriculum

We follow Development Matters, alongside the SCERTS framework, which is appropriately adapted to meet the individual needs of the children and to provide a Social, Communication and Emotional Regulation curriculum. Communication is at the heart of everything we do in Gems, so that the children are encouraged to interact with others and to regulate their emotions. Pupils in Gems are very much part of a mainstream class in their year group. They attend designated mainstream lessons and activities based on their individual needs and stage of development. For example, our Reception aged pupils join the free-flow continuous provision offered in the mainstream Reception and some of the Reception whole class P.E. and music lessons if appropriate.   

Admissions and Visits 

Please note, new admissions are allocated by Achieving for Children, not through the school.  

We are currently at capacity, with new places available in September 2025 through Achieving for Children. We are happy to carry out tours, but we reiterate that decisions on placements are not made by the school. 

Please click here to sign up for one of our school tours.  

Please email srp@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk if you have any further questions about Gems.