Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Overview

At Forest and Sandridge, all pupils are equally valued and we believe that every child should be nurtured and given opportunities to grow academically, socially and spiritually in order to flourish and be the best that they can be.

We are committed to ensuring that all SEN pupils have a broad and balanced curriculum that enables every child to access a wide variety of opportunities and experiences. The curriculum and provision at Forest and Sandridge will enable all SEN pupils to develop as individuals, enable them to express and communicate their views and ideas and develop skills and knowledge so that they have lively and enquiring minds which enables them to achieve their best possible outcomes.
Our SEN team works very closely with all of the teaching staff and, as a result, are able to support children with a wide range of academic, physical, and social needs. This may be in the form of classroom-based support or in small group or one-to-one sessions, using resources from within the school and from the support services within the authority.

If you would like to discuss any issue regarding your child or special educational needs, please speak to our SENCO Helen Chappell , who will be happy to provide both information and support. Please email [email protected] and mark FAO: SENCO.

Forest & Sandridge School prides itself on its ability to offer and successfully deliver a full and stimulating curriculum that is inclusive to all children, irrespective of need. Our SENCO, Mrs Helen Chappell, plays a huge part in making this possible. Mrs Chappell has a great deal of experience in the role of SENCO and holds the national qualification for SENCOs (NAFSENCO). She is also a leading SENCO within Wiltshire Local Authority.

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Our SEN team works very closely with all of the teaching staff who, as a result, are able to support children with a wide range of academic, physical, and social needs. This may be in the form of classroom-based support or withdrawn support, sometimes in small group or one-to-one sessions, using resources from within the school and from the support services within the authority and federation.

The school maintains very close working relationships with children, staff, parents, and other agencies. Indeed, partnership with parents is of the utmost importance. We encourage parents to discuss progress regularly with class teachers and with Mrs Chappell.

The school is proud of its ability to support children with a variety of special needs and has taken steps to ensure that all children are treated equally. As a result, the school is suitably equipped to deal with a wide range of individual needs. The school and the governing body regularly review its provision for children with special needs and ensure that its staff are well prepared and trained.

If you would like to discuss any issue regarding your child or special educational needs, please speak to our SENCO, who will be happy to provide both information and support.

We recognise that many SEND may not be visible and many children live with mental health challenges. We have a designated teacher responsible for coordinating provision and support for these children in class and out and we ensure that there are plentiful opportunities for children to share their thoughts and feelings in class and in smaller groups. For children who need additional support we have 3 trained ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) who work with children on a 1:1 basis across the school. In addition we have a school counsellor and a ‘Theraplay’ provider who also work with children individually.

The Local Offer | Wiltshire County Council

The Wiltshire Local Offer provides information and guidance on services for children and young people, aged between 0 and 25, with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This website contains information about education, health, social care, preparing for adulthood, and leisure. It is also your opportunity to provide feedback and help shape the future services.

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The White Horse Federation's SEND Policy can be found on our Policies & Procedures page.

Useful Links

Detailed below is a list of helpful links and information that we think might be of use to you if your child has any special educational needs. If you are aware of any other useful websites, please let us know and we will try to include a link to them.

Autism International Pack — A guide for parents and carers who look after someone on the autism spectrum aged between 0 and 25 years old.