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SEND and Inclusion

Welcome to our Special Educational Needs and Disability page. We hope you will enjoy reading about the variety of ways in which Hunters Hall Primary School is able to support SEND pupils to reach their full potential.

The Inclusion Team

Deputy Headteacher – SENDCo: Lisa Cooper.

ARP Teacher in Charge (Speech and Language difficulties): Nicola Trimmer.

ARP Teacher in Charge (ASD): Vicky Roche.

Our Governor with responsibility for SEND: Lee Boyce.

Every pupil at Hunters has the opportunity to follow all National Curriculum subjects.

We are committed to narrowing the attainment gap between SEND and non-SEND pupils. We do this through a variety of different provisions which may include short-term specific interventions, home-school interventions and other learning interventions developed on an individual needs basis.

The local authority offer can be found here: https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/local-offer

Our school offer can be found below:

SEND Information Report

A Parent-Friendly Guide to Special Educational Needs Support

About Our School

Hunters Hall Primary School
📞 Phone: 0208 270 4768
📧 Email: office@hunters-hall.bardaglea.org.uk

Our SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator):
Lisa Cooper (Deputy Headteacher)

We’re a mainstream primary school maintained by the local authority, and we’re here to support every child to reach their full potential.

Is Our School Accessible?

Yes! We’ve made sure our school is accessible for all children:

✓ All classrooms are on one level
✓ Wide corridors for wheelchair access
✓ Disabled toilet facilities
✓ Wheelchair lift to access the upper floor
✓ Accessible entrances to:

  • Main office
  • All Key Stage areas

What is Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

A child has Special Educational Needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. The Key Leaders

Your child may have SEN if they have:

  • Significantly greater difficulty learning than other children of the same age, or
  • A disability that makes it harder for them to use the school facilities that other children use

What Types of SEN Do We Support?

At Hunters Hall, we provide support for children with:

🧠 Cognition and Learning

  • Dyslexia
  • Moderate learning difficulties (MLD)
  • Severe learning difficulties (SLD)
  • Profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)

💬 Communication and Interaction

  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)

💙 Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

  • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • Anxiety
  • Self-harming behaviours

👁️👂 Sensory and/or Physical Needs

  • Visual impairment
  • Hearing impairment
  • Physical disabilities

How Do We Identify if Your Child Needs Support?

Early Identification

  • Some children join us with already identified needs
  • In Reception, we screen all children for speech and language issues
  • Class teachers regularly assess every child’s progress

We Look For:

  • Progress that’s significantly slower than other children
  • Gaps between your child and their peers that aren’t closing
  • Progress that’s slower than your child’s previous rate

Important: Slow progress doesn’t automatically mean your child has SEN. We look at the whole picture.

What Happens Next?

  1. Teachers discuss children at pupil progress meetings
  2. Interventions can be put in place
  3. Any staff member can refer a child to our Inclusion Team
  4. Children with specific needs are assessed using appropriate tools

Our Three-Level Approach to Support

We use a graduated approach with three levels of support:

Wave 1 – Quality First Teaching for Everyone

  • Different teaching strategies for different learners
  • Personalised curriculum
  • Visual aids and adapted resources
  • All children receive this

Wave 2 – Small Group Support

  • Small group work for children who need extra help
  • Catch-up interventions
  • In-class support or small group withdrawal

Wave 3 – Targeted Individual Support

  • One-to-one or specialist support
  • Following guidance from external specialists such as:
    • Speech and Language Therapists
    • Occupational Therapists
    • Educational Psychologists

Your Child’s Individual Support

What Support Might Your Child Receive?

Depending on your child’s needs, they might get support in:

📚 Cognition and Learning

  • Reading programmes (Sound Training, Toe-by-Toe)
  • Maths interventions (First Class @ Number)
  • Better Reading Partners

💬 Speech, Language and Communication
We have an Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) specifically for children with speech and language needs, which means:

  • All our staff are trained in speech and language strategies
  • We use Makaton Sign Language
  • We provide Talk Boost programmes
  • We work with Speech and Language Therapists

🧘 Social, Emotional and Mental Health

  • Thrive Approach for emotional wellbeing
  • School counsellor/art therapist (2 days per week)
  • Talking and Drawing therapy
  • Support from our Mental Health Support Team

👁️👂 Sensory and Physical Needs

  • Specialised equipment (writing slopes, pencil grips, sensory equipment)
  • Support from Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists
  • Programmes for children with Cerebral Palsy
  • Support from specialist teachers for deaf or visually impaired children

Who Works With Your Child?

External Specialists We Work With:

  • Educational Psychologist
  • Speech and Language Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • School Nurse
  • Advisory Teacher for the Deaf
  • Joseph Clark Outreach Service (for visually impaired children)
  • Community Paediatrician
  • Mental Health Support Team
  • LA Advisory Team

How We Work With You

Your Voice Matters

We believe you know your child best. Here’s how we involve you:

✓ Parents’ Evenings – to discuss progress
✓ Termly Reviews – to talk about your child and any concerns
✓ Meetings before specialist appointments – if your child is seeing an Educational Psychologist or other specialist
✓ Written reports – you’ll receive copies of all specialist reports
✓ Open door policy – the SENCO is available to discuss concerns

📞 Contact us anytime on 0208 270 4768

Your Child’s Voice Matters Too

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are asked for their views before reviews.

How Do We Track Progress?

  • Children unable to access the standard curriculum are assessed using the Engagement Model or PIVATS
  • Individual targets are set and reviewed every term
  • Progress is measured regularly to set new targets
  • We hold termly SEND reviews with parents and teachers
  • Children with EHC Plans have annual reviews

Supporting Your Child’s Wellbeing

We take emotional wellbeing seriously:

💚 Thrive Approach – for emotional development
🎨 Counsellor/Art Therapist – available 2 days per week
🗣️ Talking and Drawing – helps children express emotions
🤝 Family Support Worker – can direct you to appropriate services

Contact our Family Support Worker through the school office: 020 8270 4768

Joining Activities and School Life

All children are welcome in all activities!

  • All pupils work together in lessons
  • We provide support at break times for children who need it
  • After-school clubs are accessible to all
  • We provide extra staff when needed so every child can participate

Moving Between Year Groups and Schools

Within Our School

  • Detailed discussions when children move year groups
  • Provision planned for children who need extra support
  • Some children have transition books with photos of new teachers, classrooms and staff
  • Books go home during summer holidays to help prepare

Moving to Secondary School

  • Local authority meets with parents of children with EHCPs in Year 5
  • Meetings between primary and secondary schools about SEN pupils
  • Our Learning Mentors and SLT support extra visits to secondary schools
  • Planned transition activities for children with SEN

How Do We Know Our Support is Working?

We regularly check by:

✅ Tracking progress of all children with SEND
✅ Reviewing interventions every 10 weeks
✅ Holding termly SEND reviews with parents and teachers
✅ Monitoring by the SENCO
✅ Annual reviews for children with EHC Plans
✅ Regular visits from our Link Advisor

What If You Have Concerns?

Step 1: Talk to your child’s class teacher or year group leader

Step 2: If concerns aren’t resolved, meet with Senior Staff

Step 3: If still not resolved, you can make a complaint to the governing body

We’re here to work with you to resolve any issues.

Where Can You Get More Help?

At School:

Local Authority:

Barking and Dagenham Local Offer – information about all support available in your area:
🔗 https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/local-offer

Useful Policies on Our Website:

  • SEND Policy
  • Inclusion Policy
  • Behaviour Policy

Key Things to Remember

💡 We’re here to help – don’t hesitate to contact us with any concerns

💡 You know your child best – your input is essential

💡 Early support makes a difference – the sooner we identify needs, the sooner we can help

💡 Every child is different – support is tailored to individual needs

💡 We work as a team – you, your child, and school staff all work together

Visit Us

We’d love to show you around our school and discuss how we can support your child.

📞 Call us on: 0208 270 4768
📧 Email: office@hunters-hall.bardaglea.org.uk

At Hunters Hall Primary School, every child matters and every child can succeed with the right support.

Inclusion Policy Statement

SEND Policy

Accessibility Plan

Contact Us
Hunters Hall Primary School
Alibon Road
Dagenham
RM10 8DE,
t: 020 8270 4768