SENCO

Mrs Pooley
Deputy Head & SENDCo

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At Amesbury Archer Primary School, we aim to identify children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as soon as possible, in order to implement early intervention to support the individual child. We want to ensure any children joining us with identified SEND are planned for in advance to ensure a smooth transition as well as ensuring suitable provision within the school.

Mrs Pooley, our Deputy Head and Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo), works Monday to Friday and is a non-teaching member of staff. She is a qualified teacher and is also a member of the Child Protection and Safeguarding Team. Mrs Pooley liaises regularly with outside agencies who provide additional support to the school, including Speech and Language Therapy, Behaviour Support Services, Educational Psychologist, Specialist SEN Services (CAMHS), Paediatrician and Counselling.

We understand the importance of fostering strong relationships with our parents and so work hard to take your views and considerations into account when catering for the specific needs of any SEND children in our school. We encourage all new parents to come and take a look around the school for themselves and arrange to have a chat with Mrs Pooley. We never underestimate the power of close home/school communication and support in securing the best outcomes for our children. We also hold Parent Forums, which provide an opportunity for parents to discuss concerns, ask for support and meet other parents in similar situations.

The SEND provision is monitored very closely by the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that all interventions are effective and matched to the child's needs. Our SEND team delivers planned one-to-one or small group support in order to help pupils develop their skills and improve their experiences and integration within class as well as offering them enrichment opportunities. These interventions are reviewed each short term (6 times a year) and feedback is provided to parents. This ensures parents know what additional support their child is receiving and how effective it has been. The School ensures that staff are offered regular training and updates in relation to SEND through twilight training sessions with the SENDCo and external agencies.

Our Thrive Practitioner, Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA), Family Support Advisor and Counsellor, provide emotional and pastoral support across the school.