SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY (SEND)

At Bottisham, we have introduced Inclusive Classrooms and there is an Inclusive Box in each room containing items to support SEND students, from reading overlays, to task planners, to timers, as well as strategies sheets for teachers. Through the use of Inclusive Classroom strategies all students can be supported to access the curriculum and achieve.

The inclusion team has a number of highly skilled and experienced teaching assistants (TAs), who impact hugely on the school experiences and lives of vulnerable young people. These TAs work with Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) students and support them in lessons which have been identified in their EHCP as needing more support in.

A number of higher-level teaching assistants have more specialist roles within the inclusion team. These include responsibilities for literacy and numeracy intervention, emotional, social and mental health development, communication programmes and meeting sensory and physical needs. This support also includes students arriving with English as an additional language.

The local offer for Cambridgeshire can be found here. 

The Learning Support base includes a suite of rooms for small group learning and support, during lessons and break and lunch times. ICT resources include computers and laptops, with various literacy and numeracy programmes and interactive whiteboards. There is a wealth of schemes, games and equipment to support students with a range of special educational needs.

SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

The Parent Partnership Service providing Cambridgeshire’s SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers who have a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability or have concerns that their child has special educational needs. They also offer impartial and confidential information, advice and support to young people and children with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability or who have concerns they may have special educational needs. Visit their website here

Pinpoint

Helping Cambridgeshire parents who have children with additional needs and disabilities. Pinpoint Cambridgeshire is run for parents – by parents.

We give help and information to parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs and disabilities, and give parent carers opportunities to have a say and get involved in improving local services.

No formal diagnosis is required to access support from Pinpoint – a child may be on a waiting list, accessing services, had a referral turned down, or just be struggling.

Website: https://www.pinpoint-cambs.org.uk/

Spectrum

Spectrum is a multi-award winning, parent-led children’s charity.
We provide events, sessions, and support for families of children with Autism, additional needs, learning difficulties, and disabilities. As an organisation, we are family-focused, advocates of collaboration, passionate about increasing inclusion and reducing isolation whilst supporting Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND). Our membership is free.

Our team are all parents of children with Autism, additional needs and disabilities, or work with SEND every day. We understand the journey, hurdles and frustrations that many families face. As a registered Spectrum member, you can also access our dedicated child and family support from the comfort of your home, as well as gain assistance with EHCP and DLA. Furthermore, we are proud to be a leading UK distributor for Max Card. The Max Card helps make days out more financially accessible for the families of children with additional needs.

Website: https://spectrum.org.uk

Aspire

Aspire delivers youth clubs and support, in and around Cambridge, for autistic children and young people. Our clubs reduce social isolation and improve the lives and mental well-being of those who attend. We currently support around 140 children and young people and this number is increasing all the time as new families contact us.

Website: https://www.romseymill.org/aspire

SCIP

SCIP (Special needs Community Information Point) is an information and advice service for
families with children/young people from birth to 25-year-olds with a disability or additional needs. By joining SCIP you get:

• SCIP Card
• Activities Passport
• Email updates on local events and activities
• Request information specific to your child

Website: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/local-offer/local-offer-care-and-family-support/information-and-advice-scip