The school has a number of specialist teams that support the pupils.
The Assistive Technology team supports individual pupils with devices such as computers, iPads and switches to give pupils with physical or speech and communication difficulties a voice and full access to the curriculum.
Our Assistive Technology Team support pupils with a Visual Impairment to access learning through technology and adaptations around the environment, working closely with specialists.
The team are available to support other schools or settings with outreach to explore the use of technology for pupils to access learning.
Qualified Moving and Handling Advisors support the staff and pupils by providing equipment to allow pupils to be safe and to become as independent as possible. They liaise with the Occupational Therapists to provide a multidisciplinary approach and offer training and advice to staff, parents, carers and other professionals.
Our team are also available to support other schools or settings with Moving and Handling outreach.
The Learning Mentor and Team work across the school with individuals and groups to support the emotional and well-being needs of the pupils. The team work closely with therapists and other specialists to support the positive behaviour of our pupils, using Zones of Regulation to help pupils understand their emotions and how best to focus on their learning.
We are also available to support other schools or settings with Social, Emotional, behavioural support through outreach.
The school also has a visiting Counsellor one day a week, who meets with identified pupils to support their mental good health.
We also offer Draw and Talk intervention with a trained practitioner as part of our Social and Emotional health provision.
The Nurse and Health Care Assistants are responsible for medical care and administration of medicines during the school day.
Medication and medical supplies should be labelled with your child’s name, be in date and handed to the nursing team with prescription details and written instructions through your child’s Passenger Assistant or by you. Only your child’s medication or medical supplies can be given to them. If you think there may be a need for pain relief medication, you must supply these to the school.
Speech & Language Therapists give advice and support to parents, carers and staff to help them develop pupils’ communication. They also give advice on eating and drinking difficulties.
Occupational Therapists work with pupils who have functional difficulties, through the use of purposeful activity and play. They support parents, carers and staff with advice, treatment programmes and resources. They provide specific group and individual work with children who have the most complex needs.
The team also support pupils with their sensory regulation, functional processing skills and access to learning around the school. They also support families at home with equipment.
The Physiotherapists and assistants give advice and support to parents, carers and staff on physical management programmes, exercises, specialist equipment and referrals to appropriate agencies.
As pupils progress through school, therapy intervention becomes focussed on self-management, independence and preparation for adult life.
The physiotherapists work closely with organisations such as Whizz-Kids and Wheelchair Services. They also support some pupils who have a hydrotherapy need, if identified as a priority. They support pupils with their physiotherapy programmes and support staff to deliver these.
The school’s part-time Family Worker offers advice and support to parents and carers on a range of issues including benefits, housing and activities out of school.
Our resident gardening expert works with each class every week to plant, grow delicious vegetables in our fantastic allotment with poly tunnel . We sell this fresh produce as part of our functional curriculum.
The team supports the staff and therapists enhance communication and provision for all therapies across the school, including the whole Multi-Disciplinary therapy team.
The team lead many therapy-based interventions to support pupils’ physical needs across the school. Therapies are integrated into lessons as well as specific interventions and sessions.
We have sustained and long term collaborations with artists who work with us through each week on art-based projects, particularly with our Phase 4 + 5 pupils.
We work closely with specialists across all boroughs when supporting pupils with a Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Multi Sensory Impairment. We also work closely with Educational Psychologists, creative-arts therapists, paediatricians and specialists from hospitals.
Marie Claire joins us once a week to spend special time with identified pupils who we feel are a priority for some bespoke counselling. This input can include art, talking therapy approaches, play. Input can last for as long as necessary to support the individual pupil’s needs.
Molly is our very friendly School Therapy Dog. Molly is fully trained to support identified pupils and she is with us through the week to visit pupils and classes as part of our therapeutic approach.
The school has a hydrotherapy pool for some pupils to access on a priority basis. We also have a large trampoline for rebound therapy, an AKKA board Platform that helps pupils who are wheelchair users to be more independent and a Neuroball that supports pupils with their fine motor and upper limb skills in unique and imaginative ways. We also have a sensory Room at both sites and specialist rooms for behaviour-based support and intervention. We also have a Magic Carpet technical device that projects images around the room and this allows opportunities for movement in different ways for all pupils.
As pupils progress through school, therapy intervention becomes focussed on self-management, independence and preparation for adult life.
