Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

 

At La Salette we are committed to making sure that all chidlren with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are quickly identified and given appropriate support to grow and progress at School.

The Special Educational Need of each child is unique and varied and so our approach also needs to be. Many of our SEND chilren will have adapted or modified curriculums, based on their level of development and need, rather than age-related curriculums. Through targeted interventions, quality teaching and personalised learning we support children on their learning journey to achieve and celebrate their successes both academic and personal.

We have an inclusive approach to learning within classrooms and also make use of smaller groups and interventions outside of the classroom to help children develop key skills, build confidence and nuture their personal growth.

Our staff are well trained, enthusiastic in supporting our SEND pupils and work in partnership with parents. A key part of our approach is open and transparent dialogue with families. Working together we are committed to ensuring our children are happy, well supported and feel valued and welcomed from the start of the day to its end.

 

Examples of Sessions

Attention Autism : "Bucket"

The purpose of Bucket time is to build children’s attention, listening, eye contact and being able to sit for a short period of time. It uses visually stimulating, irresistible, and fun activities to grab attention, with sessions focusing on shared enjoyment in group settings.

As well as the ultimate goal of developing natural and spontaneous communication skills in children with autism, there are several other aims that Attention Autism strives to achieve. These include:

  • To engage attention.
  • To improve joint attention.
  • To develop shared enjoyment in group activities.
  • To encourage spontaneous interaction in a natural group setting.
  • To increase non-verbal and verbal communication through commentary.
  • To build a wealth and depth of vocabulary.

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Intensive Interaction

This is a form of social communication, usually between 2 people. It involves mirroring or copying a person’s actions, sounds and facial expressions. Intensive interaction allows for a two-way form of communication; the child can begin to look and start copying the adult.

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TACPAC

This draws together touch and music to create a structured half hour of sensory communication between two people. TACPAC creates sensory alignment and helps people of any age who have sensory impairment, developmental delay, complex learning difficulties, tactile defensiveness, and limited or pre-verbal levels of communication.

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ELSA

The ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention is run by Ms. Leary, one of our HLTAs, to develop and deliver individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children in their care. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.

ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists, who apply their professional knowledge of children’s social and emotional development to areas of need experienced by pupils. They provide on-going professional supervision to help maintain high quality in the work undertaken by ELSAs, thereby helping to ensure safe practice for ELSAs and pupils. 

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Key Information

SEND POLICY

HAVERING LOCAL OFFER

CODE OF PRACTICE

External Agencies

  • Team Around the school: (Havering SEND Team includes Educational Psychologist, SEMH Advisor, Communication and Interaction Advisor)
  • Speech and Language 
  • HEST: Havering Emotional Support Team is a new collaborative service which is designed to help meet the emotional wellbeing needs of children and young people in education settings. This support is aimed at children and young people who may be experiencing mild to moderate emotional wellbeing concerns.
  • Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society – Bereavement services

Contact Information

Our SENco (Special Educational Needs Coordinator)  Mrs T. O'Sullivan, can be contacted by email: tosullivan@lasalette.havering.sch.uk or by contacting the School Office to arrange an appointment.