Revolutionary App for iPads praised for pupils' learning development at Oasis Academy Long Cross

Oasis Academy Long Cross is seeing promising results for pupils who have communication needs after introducing an app called ‘Grid’ on their iPads. This has proven to provide support for their pupils, helping their overall language development and education.

Each pupil at Oasis Academy Long Cross has their own iPad, as part of the Horizon scheme, which can be used throughout the day during school hours, and at home. For two years now, staff have utilised Grid on iPads and on interactive whiteboards to successfully implement the Oasis curriculum with their pupils in a way that is catered to their specific needs.

Grid is used in every lesson at Long Cross, supporting young learners to make choices, comment on what is happening around them to work towards their communication goals.

The simple yet effective software can spark engagement with the children by using highly interactive activities, which according to Grid leader Tom Peters, has a consistently positive transition for the pupils in their learning.

“Grid truly allows us to communicate the Oasis values and curriculum to our pupils, and we cannot speak highly enough of their achievements, as they’ve had continuous access to Grid, ultimately supporting their learning experiences.”

“The simplicity and effectiveness of the software and ability to engage with Smartbox for support, have made this transition towards ‘high tech’ communication, so much simpler than it could have otherwise been.”

“The most vital implementation of Grid is modelling. Modelling language around play through Grid has expanded children’s vocabulary greatly. This can be as simple as ‘crash’ whilst knocking down a tower or ‘pop’ whilst blowing bubbles. This language can then extend to more complex requests, sentences, and descriptive language. It has been so exciting to see the concepts that our more complex learners understand or now, with this new way of communicating.”

As a result of Grid being implemented across the Resource Base, children’s communication targets have developed to reflect a new mode and method of communication.

As Oasis Academy Long Cross continues to integrate Grid more into their pedagogy and teaching, the data is beginning to reflect this shift. Data highlights a small increase in communication targets achieved over a year and the school are optimistic that the second full year of data will reflect even greater impact on children’s development.

Please find the video below from Oasis Long Cross to see how staff and pupils use Grid on their iPads.

If you would like to find out more about the academy please visit: https://www.oasisacademylongcross.org/.