SEN Support

Students at Whatley are taught in classes of no more than 10 in Secondary and no more than 6 in Primary. Each class across the school has at least two members of staff, including a teacher and one or more TAs.

Work is fully differentiated for each student according to their learning styles and individual needs, and students can access 1:1 support with a TA or HLTA for short periods, if required.

Students also have access to a range of therapies in school, based on their EHCP requirements. These include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, counselling, art therapy, CAMHS, music therapy, Lego therapy, ELSA, and a number of targeted interventions. We also use an adapted form of Zones of Regulation built in conjunction with the therapy teams. We have a whole school sensory routine that staff are trained to use throughout the day to support our students with self-regulation. The sensory routine starts with breakfast club where students oral, proprioception, tactile, visual, vestibular and auditory needs are met through specific planned activities and the food and drink options. Within the classroom students have fine-motor box activities, calming music, transition routines and mid-lesson movement breaks. Each student also has their own visual timetable and timers are used where they will assist students with managing their day.

If a student becomes dysregulated in the classroom and other support strategies are not working, a variety of in and out of class interventions are in place to allow time and support to regulate and encourage readiness for learning. This may include movement breaks and physical input using the principles of sensory circuits. This is structured, supervised time outside of the classroom with a TA or HLTA and is agreed between the teacher and student.