SEND & Inclusion

The Sensory Trail

A space where children can have physical movement breaks, as required, throughout the school day.

Visual Timetables

All of our classrooms are communication friendly, meaning that instructions and routines are supported by visuals. Every classroom at Broad Oak has a visual timetable. Each activity on the visual timetable is accompanied by a visual from Widgit Online. This consistency across the school helps to reduce the anxiety that our children can feel regarding routines and knowing what is happening next. Class teachers set the visual timetable up at the beginning of each school day and talk through it with the children.

The Calm Room

A sensory room where children can access a relaxed environment with a variety of sensory resources.

Now / Next Boards

Some of our pupils with SEND use a now/next board. The now/next board is used to show pupils the activity that they are going to complete now and the activity that will follow. For example:
Now: Maths
Next: Sensory break
Each activity on the now/next board is supported by a visual from Widgit Online. This helps our pupils who have communication difficulties/difficulty reading to understand their routine. Our pupils love moving their visuals from 'now' to their 'finished' box! 

 Sensory Spaces

We have created sensory spaces around the school building to meet the needs of our pupils with SEND. Take a look at one of our sensory spaces on the Y6 corridor.

Resources To Support Sensory Needs

Pupils with SEND who experience sensory dysregulation throughout the school day will be provided with resources to help them to receive sensory input in an appropriate manner. These resources may include: ear defenders, resistance bands, wobble cushions, standing desks, tactile fidget resources, weighted blankets etc. SENDCos will provide these resources to pupils after a discussion with parents and class teachers.

Trauma Informed Environment

Broad Oak is a trauma informed setting and all of our staff members are trauma informed practitioners. We work closely alongside TPC Therapy to create a trauma informed environment, nurturing environment at Broad Oak. All of our classrooms and shared areas are neutral, natural and have soft lighting. This helps our pupils to feel calm, safe, happy and ready to learn.

Wellbeing Check In Charts

At Broad Oak, the emotional wellbeing of our pupils is paramount. Nurturing every member of our Broad Oak family is at the heart of everything that we stand for at Broad Oak. In order to support the emotional and mental wellbeing of our pupils, each class has an anonymous emotional wellbeing check in chart. At the beginning of each school day, each child is encouraged to reflect upon how they are feeling and to identify whether they would like to have a check in with a staff member. If they would like a check in, they will move their name/peg/label to the 'I need a check in' sign. This is a brilliant way of ensuring that our pupils always have the opportunity to share their worries and anxieties with staff members.

http://www.sensiblesenco.org.uk/our-partners/bsquared/