Gecko Garden School

Gecko Garden describes a Waldorf/Steiner–inspired early years programme that uses storytelling, imaginative and collaborative play, and mixed-age groupings to develop children's social skills and self-sufficiency. The school says teachers provide a consistent daily rhythm and predictable routines to help children feel secure and reduce transitional difficulties. Its Behaviour and Discipline Policy states staff use positive role‑modelling, redirection, and guided restorative actions (for example, “right the wrong”) as core classroom strategies. For persistent challenges the school works with parents to create Behaviour Support Plans and may arrange follow‑up (including home visits) to support the child. These practices are described on the school's Preschool and Behaviour & Discipline pages.

The Admissions page states that Gecko Garden “strives to be as inclusive as possible” and will accept children with a variety of needs provided the school judges it can safely support them within existing staffing and class composition. For ongoing behavioural or developmental challenges the Behaviour & Discipline Policy explains the school may put in place Behaviour Support Plans and recommend external professionals (for example, play or occupational therapists). The website does not present Gecko Garden as a specialist SEN institution and does not list an on‑site specialist learning‑support department. Decisions about acceptance and support are made case‑by‑case by the College of Teachers and school leadership.

The Admissions information notes that understanding of English is not required for placement in preschool and that learning English is supported within the classroom; it also says some English is required for Kindergarten placement. The Preschool and Kindergarten pages list English as the language of instruction while describing classroom‑based language development through storytelling and play. The school's website does not describe a separate, dedicated EAL programme or named specialist EAL staff. Admissions assessments and classroom placement are used to determine appropriate support for individual children.

Gecko Garden's Child Protection Policy and Behaviour & Discipline Policy emphasise creating a positive, supportive environment where children are treated with dignity, encouraged to express concerns, and supported through predictable daily rhythms. The Child Protection Policy says the school will consult external child‑counselling resources when assessing serious concerns and provides training for staff to recognise signs of abuse or distress. The Behaviour & Discipline Policy describes partnering with parents, home visits, and behaviour support planning as parts of responding to ongoing difficulties. The school also hosts community supports such as a parent community and a volunteer Breastfeeding Support Group that the website describes as peer‑support resources for families.

Gecko Garden publishes a Child Protection Policy (dated August 2025) that sets out specific safeguarding measures: the school will designate a Chief Child Protection Officer and Child Protection Officers, provide child protection training for all contracted staff, and require mandatory reporting of concerns to the School Principal. The policy requires background and reference checks in recruitment, visitor sign‑in and accompaniment while on site, secure record‑keeping, and suspension of staff pending investigation where appropriate. It also describes procedures for assessing and responding to suspected abuse, including involving external child‑counselling support or local authorities as needed, and states the policy is reviewed annually. These details are in the school's published Child Protection Policy.