Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Inclusion at Brill

At Brill Church of England School, we believe that every child is unique, valued and capable of success.

Our vision, With the wind in our sails, we shall live 'life in all its fullness', shapes our commitment to ensuring that every child feels known, valued and able to flourish. We are proud to be an inclusive school where differences are celebrated and where all children are supported to achieve their potential.

We recognise that children learn in different ways and that some children may need additional support, adaptations or specialist provision to help them succeed. Our role is to understand each child's individual strengths, needs and barriers to learning so that we can provide the right support at the right time.

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Our SEND Vision

We want every child, regardless of their starting point or additional needs, to leave Brill with the confidence, skills and independence they need for the next stage of their journey.

Our aim is not simply to provide support; it is to help children develop the knowledge, resilience and strategies that will enable them to thrive throughout their lives.

We are committed to developing children who are:

Grateful

Recognising their strengths, celebrating their achievements and valuing the support around them.

Ambitious

Believing in their potential and striving to be the very best they can be.

Confident

Understanding themselves, advocating for their needs and approaching challenges with resilience and self-belief.

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Our Approach

At Brill, we take a strengths-based and child-centred approach to SEND.

Whilst we recognise and respond to children's needs, we are careful not to define children by a diagnosis, label or area of difficulty. Every child is an individual with their own personality, talents, interests and aspirations.

We believe it is important that children:

• Understand their strengths.
• Develop confidence in themselves.
• Learn strategies to overcome barriers.
• Build independence over time.
• Experience challenge and success.
• Feel a strong sense of belonging within the school community.

Our most successful outcomes occur when children develop the confidence and skills to understand themselves, manage challenges and become increasingly independent learners.

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High Expectations for Every Child

We have high expectations for all pupils.

We believe that inclusion and ambition go hand in hand. Children with additional needs deserve the same opportunities, aspirations and access to learning as their peers.

Through adaptive teaching, targeted support and specialist advice where appropriate, we work to remove barriers while maintaining a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum for every child.

Our focus is always on helping children make strong progress from their individual starting points and achieve success in all areas of school life.

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Working in Partnership

Successful inclusion depends upon strong relationships.

We work closely with:

• Parents and carers.
• Children and young people.
• Teachers and support staff.
• External professionals and specialist agencies.
• Health and social care services where appropriate.

We know that parents are experts on their children and value their knowledge, insights and partnership throughout the SEND process.

Where support is needed, we follow the graduated approach of:

Assess

Understanding the child's strengths, needs and barriers.

Plan

Agreeing outcomes and identifying the support required.

Do

Implementing high-quality teaching and targeted support.

Review

Evaluating impact and planning next steps together.

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Celebrating Strengths

Children with SEND often bring unique perspectives, talents and abilities to our school community.

At Brill, we actively seek to identify and celebrate these strengths. Whether in sport, creativity, leadership, problem-solving, kindness, communication or academic achievement, we believe every child has something valuable to contribute.

By recognising both strengths and needs, we help children develop positive self-esteem and a strong sense of identity.

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Our Inclusion Team

Our SEND provision is led by:

Nicola Carman

Inclusion Lead and SENDCo

Working alongside staff, families and external agencies, Nicola helps ensure that children receive the support they need to thrive both academically and personally.

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Further Information

For more information about SEND provision at Brill, please see our:

• SEND Policy
• SEND Information Report
• Inclusion Policy

Alternatively, please contact the school office to arrange a conversation with our SENDCo.

SEN Information sessions

Over the course of the year, we hold SEN information sessions.

We have had a range of sessions over the past year covering Dyslexia, ADHD, Ordinarily Available Provision and Interoception.

All the sessions have been well-attended and encouraged some thought-provoking and engaging conversation!

All of the slides for the sessions can be found below.

Primrose, our school therapy dog

Pets As Therapy at Brill

Supporting Wellbeing, Confidence and Belonging

At Brill Church of England School, we are committed to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels known, valued and able to flourish.

As part of this commitment, we are proud to work in partnership with Pets As Therapy (PAT), providing children with regular access to a trained therapy dog.

Our wonderful therapy dog, Primrose, is a much-loved member of the Brill community. Many children look forward to spending time with Primrose each week, whether that involves reading together, enjoying a quiet moment, giving her a brush or, of course, sharing plenty of belly rubs!

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How Does Primrose Help?

Research shows that positive interactions with therapy dogs can have a significant impact on children's wellbeing, confidence and emotional development.

Time spent with Primrose can help children to:

• Feel calm and relaxed.
• Develop confidence and self-esteem.
• Build positive relationships.
• Improve communication skills.
• Reduce anxiety and stress.
• Develop emotional regulation strategies.
• Increase engagement with learning.
• Enjoy reading and storytelling in a supportive environment.

For some children, Primrose provides a reassuring presence during challenging times. For others, she offers motivation, encouragement and an opportunity to experience success in a different way.

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Supporting Reading and Learning

One of Primrose's favourite jobs is helping children with reading.

Reading to a therapy dog can create a relaxed and non-judgemental environment where children feel comfortable practising their skills. This can be particularly beneficial for children who may be nervous about reading aloud or who need additional encouragement to build confidence.

Children often find that reading with Primrose is enjoyable, motivating and a little bit magical.

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Supporting Inclusion and Wellbeing

Primrose forms part of our wider commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and personal development.

Alongside our pastoral support, nurturing relationships and inclusive approach, therapy dog sessions help ensure that children feel safe, supported and successful.

For children with additional needs, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties or low confidence, these sessions can be particularly valuable in helping them develop resilience, independence and a positive sense of self.

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A Special Member of the Brill Family

Primrose embodies many of the qualities we value at Brill: kindness, patience, companionship and unconditional acceptance.

She helps us create opportunities for children to feel:

Grateful

Appreciating the care, support and opportunities around them.

Ambitious

Developing the confidence to tackle new challenges.

Confident

Believing in themselves and their ability to succeed.

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At Brill, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish. Primrose helps us make that vision a reality, one wagging tail at a time.

Useful Information and Links

We know that navigating SEND can sometimes feel overwhelming and finding the right information isn't always easy. We've gathered together a range of trusted websites, services and organisations that offer advice, guidance and practical support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities as well as their families.

If you're unsure where to look or would like to discuss your child's needs, please don't hesitate to contact our SENDCo, Miss Carman. We're here to help and work alongside you every step of the way.

The Local Offer

The Buckinghamshire SEND Local Offer is a network of services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The SEND Local Offer provides clear, detailed and accessible information about the services and support available, and works to ensure that young people with SEND and their parents and carers are listened to when local services are developed and reviewed.  Use the link below to explore the Local Offer in more detail.

Specific information can be found here:

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Policies

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