Special Needs, Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Belgrave Primary School, we approach the welfare of our pupils in a positive way; all our staff reinforce the values and ethos of the school. We want our children to stay happy, feel secure and enjoy being in school in whatever activity they are taking part.
We aim to:
- To respect each child as an individual and to give each child the confidence and self esteem to develop his or her talents to the full.
- To develop the whole child intellectually, morally, socially, spiritually and physically.
- To develop an effective three-way partnership between children, parents and school.
- To promote our children's positive self esteem we will enocourage our childre to think positively about themselves and to accept their own uniqueness.
- To provide opportunities for the children to feel valued and important by creating an awareness of the positive contribution they can make towards school and community.
All our children should feel able to talk freely and openly to any member of staff if thay have any worries or problems of any kind on a work or personal level. Staff always responds to children in an appropriate manner, offering advice, support, guidance and reassurance in conjunction with our other policies, including our Safeguarding Policy.
Click here to read the current documentation from the Department of Education on physical and mental wellbeing guidance.
Our SENDCo is Lynne Taylor. Please click on the documents below to view our SEND Policy and Information Report.
What if I think my child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is a legal term. It describes the needs of a child or young person who has a difficulty or disability which makes learning harder for them than for other children their age.
Children and young people with SEND may need extra help or support, or special provision made for them to have the same opportunities of other children of their age.
If your child has a SEND, their needs may fall into one or more of the following 4 areas:
Communication and interaction, Cognition and learning, Social, emotional and mental health difficulties
Sensory and/or physical needs
Who can I talk to if I have any concerns?
You know your child better than anyone else. If you have concerns speak to their teacher or
ask to speak to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCO)
Before talking with the SENDCO, we would like to understand your views and concerns around your child, please complete and return the attached documents;
Parent Views and One Page Profile (which you complete with your child.)
What will happen next?
This depends upon your child’s level of need.
All our staff employ quality first teaching strategies to involve every student and to ensure that progress is made. Where students do not make the necessary progress, the SENDCo will work closely with other key colleagues to plan and oversee further support. This process involves the initial gathering of essential information from your child’s teachers to put us in an informed position that will enable us to meet with you and discuss your child’s profile and needs.
What does this look like?
If the SENDCO and your child's teacher agree that your child may have additional learning needs, they will take a 'step-by-step' approach to identify what support is required. This is known as SEND support. Whatever the school decides to do, you have the right to be informed and for your views, and your child's views, to be taken into account. Your child's teacher and the SENDCO will follow guidance set out in the SEND Code of Practice.
What is SEND support?
Where a child or young person may have SEND, a nursery, school or college should take action to remove any barriers to learning and put support in place. This is known as SEND support. This SEND support should take the form of a four-part cycle; Assess, Plan, Do, Review.
Who else might be involved?
Multiagency Referral - Assessment for possible social communication difficulties/Autism Spectrum Disorder/ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders (0-16 years) Physio/ Occupational Therapy (OT),Speech and Language Therapy Services (SALT), CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), Sensory services, Visual Processing Disorders. School will use advice from multiagency assessments and reports to help plan their SEND support.
What if progress is still not good?
If a child or young person does not make progress with SEND support, the school or setting and parents may consider making a request for an education, health and care needs assessment. (EHCP)
Further Support for Children and Young People
Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Click here to find out more.
Every Mind Matters
Public Health England's Every Mind Matters website provides support, including tips on how to improve your mental wellbeing.
YoungMinds
YoungMinds has a wealth of resources on their website, as well as providing dedicated crisis services.
The YoungMinds Crisis Messenger provides free crisis support every day of the week, at any time day or night. You just need to text YM to 85258. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
Papyrus
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide) provides advice and support for young people who feel like they want to take their own life, and all their advice is confidential. You can:
Samaritans
Samaritans are an organisation you can ring at any time of the day or night. They'll help you and listen to how you’re feeling. You can:
SHOUT
SHOUT provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone who is struggling to cope and anyone in crisis. You can:
This service is free on all major mobile networks.
ChildLine
ChildLine provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects. You can:
The Mix
The Mix provides a free confidential telephone helpline and online service that aims to find young people the best help, whatever the problem. You can:
Kooth
Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing community, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
It includes:
Beat
The charity Beat provide information to help young people who may be struggling with an eating problem, including an eating disorder.
They also provide advice, links to local support and one-to-one webchats.
You can call their dedicated helplines:
You can also email them at:
Beat are open 365 days a year. You can contact them on weekdays from 9am to 8pm and weekends from 4pm to 8pm.
RCPSYCH
The Royal College of Psychiatrists also has information for young people, parents and carers about young people's mental health.
