Additional Educational Needs

Additional Educational Needs

All children are valued and respected in the school whatever their needs may be. For some children additional programmes and support are needed to support or to extend their learning.

The term Additional Educational Needs (AEN) includes the following:

• children with learning needs such as dyslexia or dyscalculia

• children with social, emotional and behavioural needs

• children with physical or medical needs

• children with communication difficulties

• children for whom English is an additional language

• children who are gifted, talented or more able

• children who are vulnerable

We aim:

• to identify, at the earliest opportunity, all children who need special consideration to support their physical, sensory, social, emotional, communication or cognitive development.

• to identify children who are more able and to ensure that their gifts and talents are provided for.

• to ensure that all children are fully included in all school activities in order to promote the highest levels of personal achievement.

• to promote self worth and enthusiasm by encouraging independent learning at all levels.

In addition to the broad, balanced and vibrant curriculum that we offer to all our pupils we also employ a range of short term intervention groups to boost children's attainment where necessary.

We hold Pupil Progress Review meetings three times a year where all the children in the school are discussed, attainment and progress are tracked and the register of AEN is reviewed and updated, ensuring that all children are correctly identified. Following these meetings our short term, targeted, intervention groups are evaluated and new ones established.

These interventions include:

• Positive People - to promote self esteem

• NELI - to support speech, language and vocabulary development

• First Class @ number

• Read, Write Inc

• Fresh Start

• Early Literacy Support

• Additional Writing

• Phonics

• Reciprocal Reader

We have a school counsellor who is able to provide additional emotional support to children for whom life is difficult, either at home or at school.

We work with a number of agencies and specialists who can carry out assessments and offer us advice and support. These include Educational Psychologists, Speech Therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Specialist Teachers, Social Services and other Health professionals.