What training and experience do school staff have to support children with additional needs?

NASENDCo Award - Mrs Hayley Palmer (SENDCO) holds the National SENDCO award and is also a qualified Numbers Count teacher. Mrs Palmer is also a Solution Focussed Coach and has received Restorative training.

Precision Teaching helps to support children by addressing a specific gap in their learning.  They will have this additional support daily for around 5 – 10 minutes. The techniques involved ensure that the child learns through repetition.

Makaton – Using signs and symbols to aid communication skills.

Colourful Semantics – An interactive way to teach sentence structure using colour coded pictures to develop who, what, where.

Health - First Aid Training (including Paediatric First Aid), Allergy Awareness training, Epipen training and Epilepsy training have also been attended by staff.

Autism - Staff have regular training on Autism awareness and how to use different strategies to support pupils with social communication difficulties. 

Behaviour - All staff have previously attended Positive Behaviour training with specialist Steve Russell.  Staff have also had training on attachment and trauma. Additionally, the BOSS team provide training on behaviour related learning such as Social Stories training and ADHD awareness. Key members of staff have received Team Teach training which means that we are able to respond safely and appropriately when a pupils requires additional behavioural support.

Nurture - Mrs Simpson is an accredited FRIENDS worker and also a trained ELSA practitioner (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). These enable her to support children with low self-esteem.  The programme also supports children to make positive social interactions with others. Furthermore, she is able to offer drawing and talking therapy. Mrs Simpson attended the Restorative Practice training with Mrs Palmer.

Staff regularly receive training on a variety of SEN related needs such as communication (WellComm and Makaton) and learning (dyslexia awareness in KS1).