Special Educational Needs

We welcome all children to Central Academy and we prioritise admission for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).  

We offer a comprehensive support programme and our policies can be found below:

SEND Policy          SEN Information Report           Accessibility Policy            LA Local Offer

At Central Academy, our SENDCo is Mrs M Marshall, who you can contact via the details listed on our contact page.

Child and Family Support

It's normal for every family to need a little extra help from time to time. Our staff team will be able to offer support or will help you to find the help you need in partnership with other professionals working in our community.  Many problems can be resolved with help from your child's class teacher or support assistant.  Our friendly team is always on hand to support with a wide range of challenges you may be experiencing. 

We  are able to offer support for families experiencing challenges such at:

• Establishing morning and bedtime routines
• School attendance
• Managing your child’s emotional wellbeing
• Emotion based school avoidance
• Bereavement and understanding loss
• Managing the behaviour needs of children with SEND at home

No matter how big or small you feel your worries are, if you need a little extra help please contact us, as sometimes just being able to talk to someone can help relieve the stress and find positive solutions.

If you need to access support, please contact the school office and we will arrange for the most appropriate person to make contact with you on.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following section provides some basic information to support common childhood challenges. 

Sleep Problems

Having a sleep issue is surprisingly common. At any given time up to 40% of adults and 50% of children (this rises to 80% with a SEND diagnosis) have difficulties with their sleep. Yet in a recent survey, almost 60% of adults felt there was a lack of support for sleep issues. Sleep problems can leave people feeling isolated and lonely so it’s brilliant to hear that The National Sleep helpline has been launched & is run by trained sleep advisors who can talk to young people directly, or their parents.

The helpline is open 5 nights a week, Sunday to Thursday, 7-9pm and the number is freephone 03303 530 541

You can read more here

Toilet Training

Every child is different and will develop at different rates.  Deciding on the right time to potty train is dependent upon your child’s bowel and bladder control during the day and their interest in using a potty. The ideal age to begin potty training is between 24 - 30 months and many families choose to wait until warmer months during this age band to give potty training a try.  There are a number of signs that your child is starting to develop bladder control:

• they know when they've got a wet or dirty nappy
• they get to know when they're peeing and may tell you they're doing it
• the gap between wetting is at least an hour (if it's less, potty training may fail, and at the very least will be extremely hard work for you)
• they show they need to pee by fidgeting or going somewhere quiet or hidden
• they know when they need to pee and may say so in advance

Wherever possible we ask that parents try to potty train their child before they start nursery.  If your child is not potty trained, please speak to our nursery staff during your welcome visits and we will provide further help and advice.  A useful starting place is the NHS website found here

Princess Poly's Potty Training for Toddlers video can be found here 

Pirate Pete's Potty Training for Toddlers video can be found here 

Self-care for Parents

For many parents and carers, finding time for yourself can be a challenge as you juggle family and relationships with your home and work life. This can be especially true if you are supporting a child or young person with their mental health. The Anna Freud Centre provides advice on the importance of self-care for parents.

https://www.annafreud.org/parents-and-carers/self-care-for-parents-and-carers/

Whilst self-care is important, it is important to recognise that if you are struggling as a parent or carer with your mental health and wellbeing you know that there is help and support out there for you. Your local GP is able to offer help and support and, if necessary, refer you to an adult mental health service. Where possible, try to talk to a trusted friend or relative so they are also aware of how you’re feeling and can check in on you. The below organisations also offer crisis support for parents and carers:

AFC Crisis Messenger – text AFC to 85258 for free 24/7 crisis support

Family Lives – a charity offering crisis support for parents and carers

The following organisations are recommended as additional sources of information and support for parents:

Toby Henderson Trust

The Toby Henderson Trust is a local charity which provides help, support, workshops and networks for parents of children with SEND needs.  School staff have attended these and can recommend them for parents experiencing common childhood challenges.  Their programme includes:

• Family support group
• Grandparents guide to autism support group
• Managing Meltdowns webinar
• Sensory issues webinar
• Introduction to non-violent resistance
• Using visual aids 
• Families of autistic girls group
• Parents emotional wellbeing

Many of our parents have attended these courses.  They are FREE and useful for many families - your child does not need a diagnosis for you to attend.

BBC Tiny Happy People

BBC Tiny Happy People has lot’s of advice to help you develop your child's communication skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about their amazing early development