Who should I contact if I am considering whether my child's should join the school?

Please arrange a meeting with the Inclusion Manager, Ali Carter, in the first instance.

Tel: 0208 692 2762 E-Mail: admin@beecroftgarden.lewisham.sch.uk

Where can I find further support or information?

Organisation Contact Details:

Lewisham Local Authority provides full information and support around its Local Offer and attached

services. https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/socialcare/children/special-educational-needs-anddisabilities/local-offer-faqs 0208 314 6000

SENDIASS offers parents and families impartial support, advice and training.

https://www.kids.org.uk/lewisham-sendiass 0203 319 2163

ADHD Foundation supports achievement, educational attainment, mental health and employability.

www.adhdfoundation.org.uk; 0151 237 2661

Down’s South London is a parent run charity based in Peckham that provides a free and unique early

intervention therapy service to local children with Down’s Syndrome. gundy@dircon.co.uk 0207 7019521

Dyslexia Association of London offers support and information to parents, teachers and adults. 0208 8701407

Dyspraxia Foundation is for parents of a child with dyspraxia who want to talk with other parents/carers in the same position. www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk; 01462 454 986

Lewisham Autism Support is a project set up by The National Autistic Society to provide information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young adults with autism, living in Lewisham.lewishamproject@nas.org.uk 0208 699 3066

Resources for Autism provides a range of support services for both children and their families, including youth clubs and holiday play schemes. www.resourcesforautism.org.uk 0208 458 3259

SIGNAL Family Support is a parent support group for children with autism and their families in Lewisham. It is run by parents. admin@signalfamilysupport.org; 07946 632477

NEMFLA provides free advice and support to black and ethnic minority families living with autism spectrum disorder. info@stmichaelassociates.org.uk; 0207 708 3939

Young Minds provides information and support for anyone worried about a child or young person’s behaviour and mental health. www.youngminds.org.uk; 0808 802 5544

Lewisham Carers is an independent charity which provides information, advice and support to carers in Lewisham. www.carerslewisham.org.uk; 0208 699 8686

https://www.beecroftgarden.lewisham.sch.uk Click on the ‘Parents’ tab at the top; then ‘Emotional-

Well-being-and-Mental-Health’ and then ‘Therapy Service information for parents’.

What are the main areas of need at Beecroft Garden?

Speech and Language difficulties, supported through Speech and Language therapy What is Speech and Language Therapy? Speech and Language Therapists provide assessment, advice and therapy for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. This may include children who have difficulty with attention and listening, play, social interactions, understanding and use of language. How are pupils with speech and language needs supported at Beecroft Garden? Our speech and language therapist works alongside teaching staff to ensure that a child with communication needs has a programme of intervention that will help him/her to access the curriculum and contribute more successfully in the classroom.

The Speech and language therapist will work with a child in different ways and therapy support may take the form of:

assessment,
advice and demonstration to teaching staff and parents,
setting outcomes and recommendations,
support to adapt the curriculum or environment,
training and advice on specific approaches
direct packages to support a child in the classroom, in 1:1 or small group sessions that focus on the skills needed to interact effectively with others and to form and maintain friendships. These sessions may be run by the SLT directly or by a member of school staff who has been trained in the intervention required. Outcomes are specific and pupil progress is recorded, monitored and updated termly.

Dyslexia

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed. Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.

How are pupils with dyslexia supported at Beecroft Garden?

In the class room:

staff with an understanding of dyslexia type difficulties and awareness of the need for a variety of teaching and learning strategies, such as multi-sensory learning, hands-on methods, scaffolded worksheets which assist recording.
Nessy (approved by the BDA) available on computers
staff who are aware of signs of dyslexia and a referral system for further specialist assessment
initial screening for dyslexia by a trained specialist literacy teacher
one-to-one or small group specialist teaching sessions that meet pupils needs by personalised cumulative, structured and multisensory teaching
expert support and advice for parents

Autism

What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition which means that while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. At Beecroft Garden we have pupils with a diagnosis of Autism and also those with no diagnosis but who have significant social communication difficulties. Some pupils with autism may be assessed for an EHCP, depending on the level of need. How are pupils with autism supported at Beecroft Garden?

The following interventions are available: 1 to 1 work supporting outcomes set by the Speech and Language Therapist or Drumbeat Outreach

1 to 1 work on early literacy and numeracy skills
Small group work on social thinking and active listening
Circle of Friends
Sensory diets support
Positive behavioural support and use of Drumbeat’s Incredible Five-Point scale
Emotional awareness of self and others
Visual support using Communicate in Print
Augmentative Alternative Communication System such as PECS Social or emotional difficulties, supported through Play and Drama Therapy

What is Play and Drama Therapy?

Play and Drama Therapists seek to support children who are experiencing some social and emotional difficulties at school, for a variety of reasons. These difficulties manifest themselves in many ways including displaying challenging or disruptive behaviour, becoming withdrawn and showing extremes of emotions.

How are pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties supported at Beecroft Garden? The support will be through our Play and Drama Therapist as well as our Learning Mentors. The Play and Drama Therapist will work with a child in different ways and therapy support may take the form of

Assessment
Advice and guidance for staff and parents
Individual or small group sessions, using Social communication techniques; strategies to address a child’s response to different situations using The Challenge Principle – Fight, Flight, Flock, Freeze; addressing unconscious concerns such as anxiety, fantasy, or conflict
support for classes on developing emotional intelligence through Circle Times
work with staff to embed emotionally intelligent approaches to all aspects of school life support and guidance for parents and carers

More information about in-school therapy is available on our website:

https://www.beecroftgarden.lewisham.sch.uk Click on the ‘Parents’ tab at the top; then ‘Emotional-

Well-being-and-Mental-Health’, and then ‘Therapy Service information for parents’.

Learning Mentors adopt a variety of approaches to support the pupils depending on the level of need:

teaching the Zones of Regulation
teaching mindful awareness practices
teaching social skills
teaching resilience
developing Relational Behaviour Plans
support and guidance for parents and carers
implementing the SALVE formula:

Stop our own thoughts and ideas and Separate our needs from the child’s

Attend to the child as fully as possible

Listen to the child with an open heart and mind

Validate the child’s feelings without making a drama

Empower the child in her/his own abilities to come to her/his own resolution