SEND

Special Educational Needs

SENDCo: Becky Wood

Email: rebecca.wood@yetminster.dorset.sch.uk

Telphone: 01935 872430

To discuss your child’s individual needs please email Miss Wood directly or call the office to make an appointment.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at St Andrew’s

All children are valued, respected and welcomed to the school whatever their additional educational need. We will support their learning and ensure they are fully included in all school activities, making full use of externally provided facilities where appropriate.

We are well equipped to meet the needs of all children who come to St Andrew’s. We identify children with additional needs at an early stage and have an experienced Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Becky Wood who is skilled at providing extra support for those who need it.

Becky and the class teacher will work together to create a Support Plan that will meet the needs of specific children. You will have the opportunity to meet with Becky and your child’s class teacher regularly to discuss their progress.

We also work closely with outside agencies and professionals who can offer advice and support such as: Educational Psychology Service, Speech Therapists, Educational Welfare Service, Hearing Impairment Service, Family Partnership Zone and Social Care Services. A copy of the Special Needs Policy is attached above.

Click here for information about the local offer. All local authorities must now develop and publish their Local Offer to explain what is available for children and young people with SEN and disabilities across education, health and social care.

Emotional and Mental Health

At St Andrew’s, we place great importance on the emotional health and well-being of our pupils. We are fortunate to have a qualified counsellor from Little Lives who visits the school weekly, and Mrs Shortman, our trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), runs regular sessions to support children’s emotional development. As a Trauma-Informed School, with Mrs Hedges holding a Level 5 diploma, we are committed to understanding and addressing the social and emotional needs of our pupils.

We recognise that emotional health is closely linked to learning and overall development, as highlighted in the Children Act 2004 (Every Child Matters), and we ensure that our approach supports the all-round growth of every child.

Individual needs

All children should be nurtured in accordance with their individual needs. There will always be children and young people in schools facing life challenges that detract from their ability to engage with learning, and some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others.