Inclusion & SEND
St John’s C of E Primary and Nursery is proud to be a very inclusive learning environment. We are committed to providing an appropriate, relevant, meaningful and high quality education to all our children.
We believe that all children, including those identified as having special educational needs and disabilities, have a right to a broad and balanced curriculum and should be fully included in all aspects of our school life.
We believe that all children should be equally valued in school and we will strive to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to develop an environment where all children can flourish and feel safe and happy.
We are fully committed to inclusion.
The Inclusion Team
Our inclusion team is led by Ann Hutchinson - SENCo.
Nurture
We run Nurture groups for children in year groups 1 - 6 when children are identified as needing extra support emotionally. This will be by their class teacher in discussion with the SENCo. These groups are run by trained LSAs.
Nurture helps children to:
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Understand and regulate their emotions
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Build their confidence by positive reinforcement
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Raise self-esteem
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Empower resilience to become a better learner
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Make and sustain positive relationships
Nurture runs throughout the Early years (Reception and Nursery) as part of EYFS practice.
Forest School and Alternative Provision
Our Forest School and Alternative Provision are led by Stephen Simpson and Sam Taylor-Colls. They are supported by two Behaviour Support Mentors
Forest School
Children are referred to us by their class teacher or the school SENCO. We use a specialised outdoor learning approach, following the six principles of Forest School. This allows all our children regular opportunities to achieve, to develop confidence, to boost self-esteem, and enjoy a hands-on learning experience in a woodland and natural environment with trees. We have created a safe nurturing space which allows individuals to explore their feelings and behaviours at their own pace. We challenge them, through play-based activity, and support them through their decisions and processes to help them recognise how different choices and use of their emotional resilience “toolkit” may lead to different outcomes.
Forest School 1:1 Sessions
We offer 1:1 sessions to children identified as needing support in addition to our Forest School program. These are no longer than 45mins and usually comprise of Play Therapy/Zones of Regulation
Our Forest School Alternative Provision
We have created a 1:1 personal program for individuals that need extra support away from the traditional classroom environment. We tailor-make timetables and activities to engage the individual child and encourage emotional regulation, giving the child coping strategies before encouraging a re-introduction to the classroom and school community over time. These children spend considerable time with us in cohorts of 8 children. They attend from St John's School as well as other schools in our area. Local schools can refer pupils here
Pets As Therapy
We are visited each week by a very special dog, Sam, accompanied by his owner Caroline. Sam and Caroline work with individual children in ones or two's. Sam helps calm the children and allows them to explore their feelings whilst taking him for a play and walk.
Educational Psychology Service
We work closely with the Educational Psychology Service to provide additional professional support to those children with additional needs. We have an assigned Educational Psychologist (EP) who meets regularly with the SENCo to discuss the varying needs of children. Meetings will be held with staff and families to suggest strategies and to give advice on next steps. Our EP will carry out individual work with children to support their learning in school. We access training for staff through our EP.
Emotional Health Service
We have access to the EHS who can meet and provide advice to staff. They provide staff training and individual therapy sessions with children.
Interventions
The Inclusion Team and our team of Teaching Assistants across the school are trained to deliver a wide range of interventions to support children’s social, emotional and mental health. These include: ELSA, Lego Therapy, social skills groups, and Zones of Regulation
The Speech and Language Therapy Service
We work closely with the Speech and Language service who will come into school to assess children that staff and parents are concerned about. We have highly experienced staff who are trained to deliver language packages and speech and language recommendations from therapists.
The Educational Service for Sensory Impairment (ESSI)
We work closely with ESSI to support our children with a hearing or sight impairment. Specialist teachers will regularly come to school to give extra support and advice to staff and children.
The Education Inclusion Support Service (EISS)
The EISS work with the school to support us with challenging behaviour in children. They are on hand to offer advice to make every child’s experience of school a positive one.