Inclusion and SEND
Every member of our staff team is committed to our inclusive ethos and philosophy. We know that all children are different, they all have individual needs and every child’s learning journey is different. We recognise that children may need different types of support for different periods of time and at various times in their school life. Our view of inclusion is represented in the diagram below – we want all our children to feel part of our school communities.
Our teachers and Teaching Assistants cater for all abilities within a class through responsive teaching and appropriate challenge. Our schools are committed to early recognition and intervention, and providing the best possible provision and support. Progress and outcomes are continually monitored.
We offer provision to children with Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs) who are identified as having complex learning needs that may not be able to be met through usual mainstream provision. This Complex Needs Resource Base provision can only be accessed through the decision-making process at Wiltshire Council’s Special Educational Needs Panel or the EHCP Annual Review Process. (Admission to our school does not fast-track a child to a Resource Base provision.)
Our Inclusion Lead is Mrs Heather Elliot. She can be contacted via the school office by calling 01225 768641 or emailing office@castlemead.wilts.sch.uk.
The Thrive Approach
We have implemented The Thrive Approach into our school, with great success. If children have been emotionally knocked off track, either briefly or for long periods, Thrive helps professionals, parents and carers understand the needs being signalled by the child’s behaviour and gives targeted strategies and activities to help them to re-connect.
The approach provides a distinct way of working with children that supports their key social and emotional development. In particular, it prepares professionals to work with children and their parents and carers, in targeted ways, who have struggled with difficult life experiences. This helps children to re-engage with life and learning in order to develop them into confident, happy and creative children with healthy, curious minds.