SEND: Embracing individual differences at Outwood

Since Summer of 2023, we’ve focused on developing relational approaches across all of our academies. These are founded on developing trusting and respectful relationships between staff and pupils.

This includes Emotion coaching, the Zones of Regulation and most recently, restorative practice.

Introducing our Speech, Language and Communication Toolkit. This section of the website includes an introduction video from Orlaith Simons (Specialist SALT), an array of information, advice, strategies and suggested screening tools and interventions to support Attention and Listening, Early Communication, Understanding Language, Social Skills and Interaction. This isn't to replace advice from a SALT, but as a starting point to help identify and support pupils who may have Speech, Language and Communication needs.

Having effective systems and structures in place that measure progress and track targets are vital for our pupils with additional needs. This section outlines some of the key systems and processes that we use at Outwood for our SEND pupils.

All staff are entitled to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) so that they can effectively provide for all children and young people with SEND. This is dependant upon us developing our understanding of some complex neurological differences as well as the various frameworks that govern SEND. Use this section to explore a range of online training videos that all focus on different aspects of SEND.

We are all responsible for making reasonable adjustments for pupils with SEND. Adjustments can come in the form of some adaptations (including the environment and curriculum), additional resources or to educate and train the pupil to empower them to remove a barrier to their learning. This section includes supporting materials and ideas for different types of reasonable adjustments that you can use in your academy.

Due to a many various factors, humans have evolved to include a wide range of neurological differences. This section of the website attempts to provide you with high quality information on these differences as well as links to some excellent evidence-based resources and websites that explore these further.