Special Educational Needs

Please click below to see information on the Cumberland Council's Local Offer

https://localoffer.cumbria.gov.uk/kb5/cumbria/fsd/localoffer.page?familychannel=5

 Please see the link below for the Cumberland SEND advice and support page:

https://sendiass.cumberland.gov.uk/

Special Educational needs Co-ordinator (SENCo)

Mrs Figes is the SENCO. She works closely with Mrs Stacey lamb at Monkwray Juniors to co-ordinate SEND for pupils in Year 2.

Email: w.figes@kells-inf.cumbria.sch.uk

 The Wiggle Room

The Wiggle Room is a new High Needs sensory and intervention space which will be in place from September 2024. The space will cater for pupils with complex needs who will use this space alongside time within mainstream provision.

Pupils accessing the Wiggle Room will have an EHCP or be in the process of recieving one.

The Wiggle Room - your questions answered:

What is it?

The Wiggle Room is a bespoke space designed for High Needs students, specifically those with sensory needs and autism.

The space is enclosed to support:

• Children who struggle with choice
• Children who are easily overwhelmed by others
• Focused one to one with adults
• A bespoke curriculum which is flexible
• A reduction in sensory overload

Which children will use it?

In order to access the Wiggle Room children will need to be on the SEND register and have access included in their Individual Support plan or EHCP. We believe it will be cater for five children at the most.

How much of the day will children spend in the Wiggle Room?

It will depend on the needs of the child and is likely to vary from day to day. The children will register with peers where possible but are likely to use the space first thing to aid transition. They will keep personal belongings ( coats , lunches, changes of clothes) in the space.

We believe most students with High Needs will eat in this space rather than in the dining hall.

When children are not in the Wiggle Room they will access other spaces in school, including their own classrooms, Early Years provision inside and outside, the school library and Boat Garden.

Who is in charge of the Wiggle Room?

The SENCo will oversee the space and have dedicated time for observations and working with children during the school week.

Individual teachers will oversee their own class members and plan for what they will access in the space. They will need to have over-all say in planning for the children using a pick-and-mix approach if required. Planning will be flexible to cater for concentration changes and self-regulation challenges.

For many children focuses will be on managing themselves, making choices or similar, rather than more traditional curriculum objectives.

Support staff will choose from the resources and planning to help manage the child within the setting. They will have daily contact with class teachers through a communications book and will record achievements using IPADs. A whiteboard will enhance communication too.

Oversight for children will also be regularly part of the remit of the Special Advisers in the SEND team.

As pupils develop we will aim to create a visual timetable for them using ‘now’ and ‘next’ language to help them prepare for more formal settings.

What activities will the Wiggle Room children do in their own classes/ with their peers?

Each child will be different. Some children do not have fulltime hours and therefore their access to the Wiggle Room may be managed differently than those with fulltime support.

Class teachers will work with the SENCo and support staff on planning for each child and as such they will need to spend time with Wiggle Room children through the week.

At present, we predict that most High Needs children will spend the following time with their peers wherever possible:

• Outdoor playtimes ( morning, lunch and afternoon)
• Trips and visits
• Art, Music, Fine motor sessions and PE
• Early Years children will access continuous provision
• Storytime
• Mastering Number

We continue to work with our colleagues in the County Council and other stakeholders to improve the curriculum and facilities for children with disabilities. This includes plans to improve changing areas in both the Early Years and Key Stage One. We also intend to extend the 'Wiggle Room' provision with another intervention space in Key Stage One. 

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