Woodgate Primary Academy
"Working together to be our best"
SEND
Our SENCO at Woodgate Primary Academy is Mrs Jenny Bird.
Mrs Bird is in school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you would like to make an appointment please contact the school office on 01444 461329.
SEND Information Report - see policy section for SEND policy and accessibility plan
Early Help SEND Events
Early Help are running a number of SEND Events across the county. The sessions are open to all families with a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) up to age 11, and siblings. They provide an opportunity for families:
Visit our website Find a Family Hub - West Sussex County Council to find your local Family Hub. Your local family hub will have details on dates and venues for the events. Should you require further information, or have any questions please contact emma.bruton@westsussex.gov.uk
Autism All Ages Consultation West Sussex County Council wants to make West Sussex a better place for autistic people across all ages and for their families and carers. To achieve this, we are working together with autistic people and their families and carers to co-produce an autism strategy and plan. As a first step towards this, we are undertaking a consultation between October and December 2024. The consultation, which includes on-line surveys and workshops, focuses on finding out how autism-friendly West Sussex is and gathering information about people's needs and quality of life. In the Spring of 2025, the consultation findings will be analysed and then used to coproduce a strategy and plan. There will be further consultation around the proposed strategy once it is drafted prior to it’s final agreement in early Summer 2025. Information about the surveys and workshops can all be accessed through this single link/page: https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/autism-all-ages-consultation |
On 8 October 2024, the Law Commission published a consultation paper on disabled children’s social care law and whether it meets the needs of disabled children and their families. The Commission is seeking views from young people, families, local authorities and social workers, and anyone else with an interest in or awareness of the area. The consultation is part of a review into the law to ensure that it is fairer, simpler and more up to date. The consultation asks a number of questions, including:
The full consultation paper and the consultation questions are available on the Law Commission website, where you can also find the summary document. If you need this summary to be made available in a different format, please email The consultation is open until 20 January 2025. West Sussex County Council will be putting together a response as a Local Authority, and the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum is also formulating a response. You can respond directly yourself, using the links given, or send any responses or questions to Natalie McNeill at Natalie.McNeill@westsusex.gov.uk, who will incorporate them into the main response. Please keep responses as brief as possible to ensure they can be included in the main body of the Local Authority response. |
West Sussex Autism Strategy and Plan
West Sussex County Council wants to make West Sussex a better place for autistic people across all ages, and for their families and carers. To achieve this, we are working together with autistic people and their families and carers to co-produce an autism strategy and plan.
As a first step towards this, we are undertaking a consultation between October and December 2024. The consultation, which includes online surveys and workshops, focuses on finding out how autism-friendly West Sussex is and gathering information about people's needs and quality of life.
In the Spring of 2025, the consultation findings will be analysed and then used to co-produce a strategy and plan. There will be further consultation around the proposed strategy once it is drafted, prior to its final agreement in early Summer 2025.
Information about the surveys and workshops can all be accessed through this page.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact MHCommissioning@westsussex.gov.uk.
https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/autism-all-ages-consultation
West Sussex Mind - training to support young people's mental health and wellbeing
Did you know that West Sussex Mind have various training courses, webinars and resources to help you support young people’s mental health and wellbeing? Whether you are a parent or carer of a child struggling with their mental health, or you are working as a professional supporting young people, there are lots of training sessions and resources available to help. For parentsOur parents and carers service aims to increase your knowledge and awareness of mental health and boost your confidence in coping with and addressing your child or young person’s mental health. The service includes online and in-person peer support meetings, where you can discuss your concerns, build strategies to help you support your child and meet other parents and carers. Our parenting support team also offers a range of free training webinars to help parents and carers support their young person's mental health. Topics include attachment, aggressive behaviours and emotionally based school avoidance. Youth Mental Health First AidYouth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA®) courses are for everyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. They will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. The course won't teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis - and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.
Reaching Families Benefits Advice Service - Supporting parent-carers with information and advice on Carers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment
|
West Sussex Parent Carer Forum
We hope you are well and have had a positive start to the 2024/2025 academic year! Do you know about the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF)?Click here to have a look at our website to find out more.
|
Photo Books for New Classes
Reaching Families Benefits Advice Service
We are delighted to announce that Reaching Families Benefits Advice Service has restarted and is now available for parent-carers of a child or young person with SEND to access. Thanks to major new investment we have been able to appoint a new benefits advisor and support worker to advise parent-carers on applications for Carers Allowance, DLA and PIP and undertake claim checks in advance of submitting. The team have also been joined by a new benefits service administrator. |
Parents can self refer to the service and book appointments via our website here: Reaching Families Benefits Advice Service
As always, we would advise parents to book their appointments well in advance of submission deadlines as we expect demand for the service to be very high. Statutory and voluntary agencies can also refer parent-carers to the service via benefits@reachingfamilies.org.uk
For information on all of our services please visit our website here: Reaching Families
Neuro-developmental pathways animations
West Sussex County Council, NHS Sussex, the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum and Reaching Families have jointly developed some animations for children, young people and families going through ND assessments.
Animations for children and young people going through neurodevelopmental assessments
WSCC, NHS Sussex, West Sussex Parent Carer Forum and Reaching families have jointly developed some useful animations for children, young people and families going through neurodevelopmental assessments. Please watch and share! |
Foster carers
Are you in contact with adults who cannot read or who struggle to read? Read On - West Sussex is a newly launched library initiative, which matches volunteers to adults who want to learn to read. If you know someone who could benefit from this service or would like further information, please email Read.On@westsussex.gov.uk |
CAMHS Support for Parents
Disability - busting myths
Aspens.org.uk Autism Central is here to help! Support for parents and carers
- Mental Health Awareness Week & where to get support
- E-wellbeing.co.uk is an online service for young people across Sussex that can help them access the right support and information (including referrals to specialist treatment via the new Single Point of Access).
- Your Mind Matters also has some very useful information for young people, families and professionals.
Free mental health support from CAMHS
Free online SEN resources
We have been helping to support parents with Free Government Funded SEN Online resourses.
Topics include Neuroscience in ages 0-7, Autism, Dyslexia, ADHD, Mental Health and Challenging Behaviour.
https://theaimgroup.co.uk/courses?postcode=rh1&q=&sort=popular
Information from the school nurse
Short Breaks in West Sussex
We have produced a Three Minute Guide to the changes to Short Breaks in West Sussex. View and share the video on YouTube Share the video on social media such as Facebook using this link. We would encourage you to take three minutes to watch the guide and please can you share on your social media and through your parent carer networks. |
West Sussex Children and Young People's Plan
For further information please email cypp@westsussex.gov.uk |
Cost of Living!
This is the link for the Broadfield Hub, they can advise about crisis payments, food parcels etc
Crawley Broadfield Family Hub - West Sussex County Council
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/find-a-family-hub/crawley-broadfield-family-hub/
Help for Households - Get government cost of living support link for parents to support
https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=H4H_UK&utm_medium=Search&utm_source=Google&utm_content=Generic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqoibBhDUARIsAH2OpWjEuqR401CeZcV4t55xzB7RIN-R-MD3fy7lCX5MMxWK1c44nXQRZO0aAtW2EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Reaching Families a range os support for parents/families with additional needs
https://www.reachingfamilies.org.uk/
West Sussex Mind | Homepage Training and support
https://www.westsussexmind.org/
Transition to secondary school
Zones of Rgulation
At Woodgate Primary we use the Zones of Regulation to help us understand and manage our emotions.
This video explains more and how parents can support at home too:
Useful Resources
Compass Card for children with SEND
Have you heard about Compass Card WSx, the free leisure card that provides discounts and freebies for 0 to 25s with additional needs? Run by Sussex-based charity Amaze and funded by West Sussex County Council, there are around 300 venues in and around Sussex that provide a Compass Card deal and you can see them all on the free Compass Card app or on the offers page on the Compass Card website. Once you have a Compass Card, you can sign up to a weekly e-newsletter, ‘Compass News WSx’. It’s packed with leisure info and there are regular free offers too. Check whether you’re eligible for Compass Card WSx.
To find out more follow the link below:
https://www.compasscard.org.uk/compass-card-offers/
SEN support during Lockdown
All parents and carers are encouraged to keep in contact with school if they have any queries or concerns, via emails sent and school letters.
Class teachers, SENCO and Headteacher are contactable through their school email address or via the school office if there are any concerns.
Class teachers are keeping a close eye on children’s engagement in live lessons and work. They are offering extra time after a live input to explain the work further to those who are struggling.
Class teachers are contacting families by phone if they have any concerns and to check how SEN pupils are getting on.
The SENCo is kept up-to-date with SEN progress via weekly Staff meeting, email, Whatapp (initials only used) or phone calls.
SENCO and Head contact SEN pupils for which we have concerns and offer ways to support children (see below)
Packs of resources have been sent to families and paper copies are available from school. Any family unable to collect we would do our best to deliver.
The resources include:
Number lines
100 square
Year 1and 2 common exception words (KS1)
200 high frequency words (KS2)
Letter formation/ alphabet sheet
Phase 3 and 5 sound mat
A social story about learning from home during lockdown
sensory activity ideas
calming activity ideas
A visual timetable
Class teachers are to supply children with specific resources to support a lesson and to ask the SENCO when further resources are required.
1:1 sessions are offered for some children with SEN with a TA – teachers will plan for this.
Places at school have been offered where appropriate to support SEN.
Our groups of children are still very small when online so teachers prepare tailored lessons that include support for SEN children.
In reception the teacher is able to deliver live maths and English session across the week for a group of 4 children. She also prepares workbooks for some SEN children who prefer to work this way.
In KS1 we are delivering daily phonics to groups of between 4 and 5 children.
In KS 2 our year 3 group works on their own with a teacher delivering live lessons with up to 6 children.
Our year 4-6 work at a similar ability and work with a teacher in live sessions with up to 9 children.
SEN children are also able to access personalised online programmes to support their learning such as Time Tables Rock Stars, Sum Dog, My Maths, Readiwriter, Oxford Reading Owls and Reading Eggs.
We have also built in a well-being afternoon – where children are encouraged to do something that makes them feel good.
We have daily tutor sessions and story time where teachers can see how children are getting and children can ask questions.
The Learning Mentor is arranging sessions to support children with specific needs.
As this situation is new to all of us we are working together with all stake holders and reviewing regularly and working hard to put in place the right support for all children.
We are still continuing to work with outside agencies, seeking advice, making and continuing with referrals and sharing this information with all stakeholders.
We are also continuing to train staff and TAs e.g. social stories and comic strips and therapeutic approach to behaviour.