Student Support & SENCO

At Wilmington Grammar School for Boys we value and support the individual abilities and needs of all of our students.  We take seriously our duty to provide equal opportunities and a safe and fully equipped learning environment for every young person in our care. We strive to ensure that our broad school curriculum is inclusive and that every student can participate in all aspects of school life.

WGSB adopts a holistic approach to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  Students with identified needs are supported to fulfil their potential and achieve optimal educational outcomes through high quality teaching and learning.  All teachers and support staff are made aware, through regular training and updates, of how to utilise a range of teaching approaches and strategies to have maximum impact. We strongly believe that ‘what works for SEND students, works for all students’.

Students may arrive at WGSB with their needs already identified, or these may be identified later during their time at school. Students are supported and monitored in accordance with their personal and individual needs and there are clear policies and procedures in place to ensure that this provision is kept under review, with support amended appropriately when necessary. 

Students with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) are supported in accordance with their plan; they have annual reviews which set individual and personal targets, enabling students to make excellent progress in relation to those targets.

The SENCO liaises with the Heads of Year and the Examinations Officer to ensure that special examination access arrangements are in place for those students entitled to such arrangements. Students are given guidance on how to gain the most benefit from such arrangements.

The Student Support Team includes our SEND team and our Student Managers.

The SEND team is led by our SENCO, Mr Sage and is supported by:

Mr Hansford (Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Sen Specialism)

Mrs Miller (Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, and Pupil Premium Coordinator)

Ms Callway (Learning Support Assistant)

Mrs Harrison (Learning Support Assistant)

Mrs Ibitoye (Learning Support Assistant)

Mrs Jones (Learning Support Assistant)

Mr Long (Learning Support Assistant)

Mrs Norman (Learning Support Assistant)

Our Student Managers are:

Mrs Taylor - Year 7

Mrs Mager - Years 8 and 9

Mrs Cast - Years 10 and 11

Mrs Regan (WGSB) and Mrs Wheatley (WGSG) - WG6

Our school SEN Policy can be downloaded from our website by clicking here

For information regarding Kent Parent Partnership Service please CLICK HERE. This service offers impartial advice and support to parents with children with SEN. KPPS aim to empower parents and families of children with SEN to be confident to take an active an informed role in their child’s education and development.

If you are a student who has come to this page looking for support, please click here

 

Year 7 Transition Support

The SEND team provides several small group interventions for students who are identified as needing extra support with the transition into year 7, for example: Nurture Group, Emotional Intelligence, Organisation, Sensory Circuits, and Social Skills. In addition, students have specified access to separate, quieter spaces at break and lunch time if they need them.

Emotional Support

The SEND team provides a range of interventions for students who are identified as needing extra emotional support, for example: Anger Management, Lego Therapy, and Talk About Teens for anxiety. Our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Mrs Miller, is trained to support students individually or in small groups with their emotional needs.

Academic Support

In addition to any subject specific intervention provided by different departments, the SEND team provides interventions to support specific students identified as needing extra academic support, for example Organisation and Study skills, and Reciprocal Reading. Students may also be referred to Homework Club if they are struggling to keep up with homework expectations.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

At WGSB we promote a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.  This is evident through our strong pastoral structure and core values.  Students are encouraged to speak to any member of staff if they are worried about their own or someone else’s mental health and wellbeing. They can then get further help and support from their form tutor, Head of Year, or Student Manager.

Students with more complex mental health and wellbeing needs who may require more nuanced support may be referred to our school Time2Talk counsellor. Attendance at any counselling appointment is voluntary, and students may withdraw at any time. The focus is very much on empowering students to formulate their own ways of dealing with the circumstances in which they find themselves. All information discussed during an appointment will remain confidential between the student and the counsellor, unless it relates to a Child Protection issue, in which case the counsellor forwards the information to the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) who will the take the appropriate action, as is required by law and the safeguarding of the student (see Child Protection/Safeguarding Policy). Brief confidential notes are kept by the counsellor, and a weekly appointment log of the students’ names and times is compiled by a member of the Student Support Team.

Peer-Mentoring Support

Students who are struggling with organisation, achievement, social skills or low self-esteem may be referred to our peer mentoring support which takes place every other Monday during registration time. Pupils receive one-to-one support from a trained Sixth Form peer mentor. Where appropriate, this support may be delivered in a group setting. Parents/guardians are informed of the referrals to peer-mentoring, and their support is important to ensure the students meet the targets set. The scheme is co-ordinated by Ms Kemp, who is the Head of Year 12 and 13, and Student Wellbeing Leaders.

The aims of the mentoring programme are to:

  • establish and promote good organisational skills
  • support those who are underachieving in academic subjects
  • promote self esteem
  • develop personal and interpersonal skills
  • create positive relationships between junior and senior students
  • encourage and enable students across the school to take increased responsibility in a leadership role.