Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

We work in partnership with the Local Authority to support any child who has an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan).  If a child already has an EHCP or has significant special or medical needs, please talk to us in confidence so that together we can ensure that all aspects of the admission process take place in good time, to ensure the best support for your child.

All teaching is carefully planned so the needs of all pupils are met. Lessons are adapted to ensure all children are supported and challenged. Pupils with significant special educational needs will have individual programmes / interventions, to address the targets on their EHCP, as well as adult support when necessary.

SEMH Unit - The Nest 

The Nest is an SEMH Unit (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) within our mainstream primary school. The Nest is for 12 children aged 4-11 years who had experienced disrupted childhoods.

All of the children in our Nest have an EHCP with a primary need of trauma. Many of the children in the Nest are in foster care / adopted / have special guardianship orders etc. Children who have suffered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can find the demands of school life difficult and are more likely to experience challenges as young people.

The Nest provides a safe, consistent, nurturing environment where the children can develop the skills they need to regulate, learn adults can be trusted and access learning successfully.

The Nest Team work closely with the staff in the mainstream to ensure the children in the Nest can join their ‘buddy class’ for opportunities to be taught with their mainstream classes when they are calm and regulated.

The children all have their own individual weekly learning plan, focusing on core academic subjects as well as opportunities to learn regulatory strategies. They are also taught Life Skills and an Emotional and Social Curriculum. The children benefit from regular Forest School sessions and trips out in the school minibus.

Our Nest Team consists of a specialist Lead Teacher, trained LSA’s, a Speech and Language Therapist (1-day a week) and a Play Therapist (2-days a week)

‘Children who have experienced trauma need to be in an environment where they feel safe, seen, soothed and secure.’  Louise Bomber.

Safe: We aim to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment. Trust and respect will be nurtured, using consistent routines, clear boundaries and calm regulated adults.

Seen: Children will be truly understood and acknowledged (seen) through active listening, empathy and recognition of each child’s unique needs and strengths.

Soothed: We will help children to regulate their emotions, to provide comfort, gentle words, sensory experiences and reassurance and a calm approach when they are feeling distressed.

Secure: Children will feel secure through positive relationships with adults who are emotionally available and responsive to them. We will provide a stable and predictable environment. Security allows children to be able to explore the world and learn without fear.

Our entry and exit criteria will shortly be published 

Inclusion

We are proud of the fact that our school has a positive attitude towards the inclusion of all pupils as we wish our school to be a true reflection of the society in which our children live.
At Juniper, we believe that every child has the right to achieve and feel successful. We provide educational experiences which develop pupils’ achievements and recognise their individuality. Diversity is valued as a rich resource which supports the learning of all. In our school, inclusion recognises the right of every child to a broad, balanced, exciting and challenging curriculum which is appropriate to their individual abilities, talents and personal qualities. It involves the identification and minimising of barriers to learning and participation that may be experienced by any pupil, regardless of age, ability, gender, ethnicity, language and social background and the maximising of resources to reduce these barriers.

Mrs Lauren Long is our Assistant Head for Inclusion / SENDCo, can be contacted via the school office on 01628 523536.