Welcome to the SEND section of our website!:

At Nelson Primary School, we are committed to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for all our pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are proud of the comprehensive support we offer and the excellent progress our SEND pupils make.

What is SEND?

SEND refers to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability, which calls for additional or different support to be given.

Our Commitment to SEND

We are passionate about ensuring all our pupils, regardless of their needs, have the opportunity to thrive. We have a dedicated team of staff who work tirelessly to provide a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Our SEND Provision

 

We have a well-equipped sensory room that provides a calming and stimulating space for pupils who need to regulate their sensory needs. 

A sensory room is a specially designed space that uses various stimuli to engage a pupil's senses. These include:

• Visual: Special lighting effects, fibre optics, bubble tubes, mirrors.

• Auditory: Calming music, nature sounds, white noise machines.

• Tactile: Soft furnishings, textured objects, fidget toys, play equipment.

• Proprioceptive: Activities such as the body roller can help reduce anxiety.

• Sensory rooms are used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Self-regulation: Helping children who are overwhelmed by sensory input to calm down.

• Sensory stimulation: Providing opportunities for our children who seek sensory input to explore their senses in a safe environment.

• Communication: Offering alternative ways for children with limited communication skills to express themselves.

• Focus and concentration: Creating a calming space that can help children focus on learning tasks.

 

 

At Nelson Primary, we understand that UKS2 can be a stressful time for some children. Between SATS, friendships, and home life, emotions can run high. This can sometimes lead to difficulty focusing or occasionally the ability to regulate behaviour in class. That's why we've created a dedicated Regulation Zone specifically for our UKS2 pupils.

This calming space is designed to provide a safe haven for our older children who need a moment to regulate their emotions and refocus on learning. The zone has:

• Soft cushioning: Soft furniture invites children to relax and feel comfortable.

• Soft lighting: Gentle lighting reduces overstimulation and creates a soothing atmosphere.

• Calming light projections: Mesmerising light patterns projected onto the walls and ceiling offer a visual focus for calming down.

Whether a child is feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or simply needs a break, the Regulation Zone is a safe space to take a moment. In this calming and safe environment, children feel supported and can develop coping mechanisms to manage their emotions effectively. We know that managing emotions is a crucial skill, and our Regulation Zone empowers children to find their own sense of calm and return to class ready to learn.

 

 Our "Cabin in the Woods" is nestled amongst green grass and tall trees, accessible from our main building by a fairytale path lined with flowers and plants.  A tree swing adds to the charm of this tranquil space. Inside, our dedicated "Cabin Crew" of specialist staff awaits, ready to offer targeted interventions and alternative provision for our pupils with the most complex needs.

You'd never guess you were still in the heart of the city centre!

This little oasis of calm provides the perfect environment for focused learning and support. Our cabin allows us to offer a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to our children's individual needs and EHCP targets. 

It is important to us that no pupil spends their entire day within The Cabin. We strive to include them in as many aspects of mainstream school life as possible. We believe Nelson Primary School offers the "best of both worlds" - specialist provision alongside mainstream inclusion, allowing all pupils to learn and benefit from each other.

A recent inspection by a specialist team further echoed this sentiment, stating, "The staff understand pupils and promote communication and independence at the heart of everything that they do" (CAT specialist April 24).

 

• Inclusive Curriculum: Our whole curriculum is designed to be inclusive and adaptable to the needs of all our pupils. We use a variety of teaching methods and resources to ensure learning is accessible and engaging.

• Classroom Adaptations: We make suitable adaptations in the classroom to support individual needs. This may include the use of dual coding, visual timetables, Makaton signing, and individual workstations.

  

• Personalised Curriculum: For a minority of pupils, we develop a more personalised curriculum in partnership with SEND specialists to meet their specific needs.

• Targeted Interventions: We provide a range of targeted interventions based on the latest research, including Talk Boost, Colourful Semantics, Word First, and Precision Teach.

 

Outcomes and Success

Our SEND outcomes are consistently above national averages. In 2022, SEND pupils at Nelson performed above the national average in KS1 Maths and KS2 in all subjects. Data from 2023 shows that SEND pupils continue to perform significantly better than Birmingham and National SEND averages.

 

We are confident that Nelson Primary School is the right choice for all pupils, regardless of their needs. If you have any questions about our SEND provision, please do not hesitate to contact us.