The Brent Knoll Local Offer
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
Brent Knoll School is a Co-operative Trust special school which offers a wide range of specialist provision to support children with autism and speech, language and communication needs.
Provision to facilitate/support access to the curriculum/independent learning
- High adult-to-pupil staffing ratios.
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- TEACCH strategies and interventions
- Use of Makaton
- Wide use of symbols, including Communicate in Print
- Speech and language therapy on-site
- Occupational therapy on-site
- Independent Travel Training Programme
- Links to post-16 education providers and Further Education colleges
Access to a supportive environment
- Purpose-built low arousal environment
- Interactive screens in every classroom
- Access to electronic media for all pupils
- Individual workstations
- Interactive sensory room
- Various interventions to support holistic development
Strategies to support/develop literacy
- Sounds-Write (reading/writing programme)
- Phonics-based reading scheme
- Specific literacy groups through Y7-9
- SMILE programme for handwriting
- Handwriting Without Tears programme
- Occupational therapy ‘Clever Fingers’ programme
Strategies to support/develop numeracy
- Numicon math resources
- Web-based learning
- Practical and multi-sensory approach
Strategies to support/modify behaviour
- All staff trained in Team-Teach de-escalation and positive handling strategies
- Support plans and positive handling plans
- Personal Development Plans (PDP)
- Use of social stories
- Reward and recognition systems
- Motivation strips
- Restorative justice approaches, where appropriate
- A wide range of additional interventions
Social skills programmes
- I Can group
- Occupational therapy/speech therapy social skills groups
- Use of social stories
- Personal Development Plans (PDP)
- Community-based learning
- Out-of-school hours learning
Strategies to enhance self–esteem / promote emotional wellbeing
- Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- Links with the Lewisham Youth Project
- Opportunities for participation in representative sporting events
- Residential school journeys
- Rewards and achievement schemes
- PSHE curriculum
- Forest school outdoor education programme
- A wide range of additional interventions
Support/supervision at unstructured times of the day, including personal care
- High staff supervision ratio
- Breakfast Club
- Organised lunchtime activities
- Out-of-school hour learning programme
- Toilet training provided
- Wet change room with ceiling hoist
- Disabled access toilets and showers
- Lift access
- Feeding and dressing skills programme
Strategies/programmes to support speech and language
- Full-time speech and language therapy provision on-site
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- TEACCH strategies and interventions
- Use of Makaton
- In-house Makaton tutor
- Wide use of symbols, including Communicate in Print
- Individual, small group and whole class SaLT interventions
- Personal Development Plans (PDP)
- Speech Bubble drama programme
- Parent workshops
Strategies/programmes to support occupational therapy/physiotherapy needs
- Occupational therapy provision on-site
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- TEACCH strategies and interventions
- Use of Makaton
- In-house Makaton tutor
- Wide use of symbols, including Communicate in Print
- Individual Education Plans
- Parent workshops
- BEAM gross motor skills programme
- Sensory circuits
- Adapted cutlery, furniture and equipment
- Trampettes
- Visiting physiotherapists
- Movement Works programme
Access to medical interventions
- Personal care plans
- Staff trained in administration of medication
- Visiting school nurse
- Visiting consultant paediatrician
- Epilepsy trained staff
- High proportion of trained first aiders
- Qualified paediatric first aiders
Staffing arrangements to promote access (building; curriculum; information)
- Fully accessible building
- Local authority transport and escorts
- School website
- School-based mini buses and drivers
- School information channel
- Prospective parent visit schedule
Planning and assessment
- Special Online Assessment Record (SOLAR)
- Topic based curriculum delivery
- Annual reviews
- Personal Development Plans (PDP)
- Positive handling plans
- Transition plans
- Holistic intervention tracker
Engagement with parents/carers (See Parents)
- School/home support
- School website
- Termly parent evenings
- 3 parent governors
- Home/school diaries
- Parent forum events
- Termly achievement assemblies
- Class assemblies and school productions
- Occupational therapy/speech therapy parent workshops
- Annual review process
- Termly progress reports
- Text messaging service
- Parent workshops in numeracy, literacy and behaviour
- Parent support group
- Parent forum
Liaison/communication with professionals
- Education psychologist
- CAMHS
- Lewisham social care complex needs team
- Occupational therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Psychotherapeutic counsellor
- Partnership with the Cassel Centre – counselling/therapy provider
- Links with the Cassell Centre
- MAPP
- Local primary collaborative
- Special schools consultative group
- Designated PCSO
- Brent Knoll and Watergate Co-operative Trust
Arrangements for specialist expertise in school
- Several staff (including school leaders) with specialist postgraduate qualifications in autism to Masters or Diploma level
- In-house Makaton tutor
- In-house advanced Team-Teach tutors
- Sports coaches, including trampoline and swimming coaches
Arrangements for specialist expertise from outside school
- Sports coaching
- Meditation tutor
- Visiting therapists
- Counselling
- Partnership with the Cassel Centre – counselling and therapy providers
- Educational psychologist
- Fitness instructor
- Music tutors
- Drama workshops
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
Monitoring and evaluating the impact of the ‘additional and different’ arrangements on progress and outcomes for SEND pupils
- Achievement data analysis
- Special Online Assessment Record (SOLAR)
- Personal Development Plan (PDP) achievement analysis
- Provision mapping and intervention audit
- Pupil premium analysis and report
- SIMS analysis of interventions
- Holistic tracker
- Year 11 destination data
Since September 2012, our schools’ duty to make reasonable adjustments has included the provision of auxiliary aids and services. This may have been considered special educational provision in the past but is now the responsibility of all schools/academies and other providers.
