Specialist Provision

Specialist Staff

ERS has developed a high level of expertise and practical experience in helping children with a wide range of special educational needs – including many who have an EHC Plan from their Local Authority.

We have an in-house team of specialist professionals who work with our children, consisting of:

• Specialist teachers for Literacy and Numeracy

• Speech and Language therapists

• Occupational therapists

• Visiting physiotherapist

• Social and Emotional Development specialists

These specialists work individually or in small groups with pupils in sessions throughout the school day. They also work with teachers and support staff to ensure that strategies are in place to support each pupil’s learning and well-being and that specific programmes are practised and reinforced in the classroom.

Speech and Language Therapy

Pupils with a range of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) are provided with Speech and Language therapy in groups, individual sessions and in the classroom.

Sessions are used to develop skills in relation to a pupil’s identified needs - such as the understanding of language, expressing language, vocabulary and social communication. However, as part of our integrated approach, the Speech and Language therapy team also rely on the classroom staff to support the development and generalisation of skills learnt in therapy sessions in order to help pupils become more proficient in ‘real life’ situations.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) aims to help pupils to achieve optimal independence in their learning and provides the scaffolding needed to build up their successful participation in the school environment. OT at ERS is delivered in individual or group sessions with programmes and strategies provided to support the child’s learning and development. Areas that the OT team might support a child with include balance and coordination, the recording of their work, sensory needs and emotional regulation.

Specialist Teaching

The Specialist Teaching team provide support to pupils who have literacy and/or numeracy difficulties and usually have a diagnosis of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia or anther Specific Learning Difficulty which impacts their ability to acquire competence in these areas.

Specialist teachers typically work with pupils one-to-one, using structured, cumulative and multi-sensory approaches, and equipping pupils with strategies to help them become confident and independent learners. Specialist teachers also work closely with classroom staff and other specialist teams, regularly sharing information to ensure a consistent and well-coordinated approach to each pupil’s support.

Social and Emotional Development (SED)

The SED team support  pupils with social and emotional needs to develop strategies and skills that will help them to fully access the learning environment. Pupils are supported either directly or indirectly through activities appropriate to their age and needs. Pupils might also spend time in the sensory room or the sensory garden during their SED sessions, or at other times when needed.

The SED team are also responsible for managing and supervising the Bridge, which is a separate calm, supervised space for pupils with social and emotional needs who need a break from the classroom environment, or for pupils who are unable to access lessons because of their anxiety. The Bridge provides a welcoming space where there will be quiet, calming activities in a low-demand environment which enable pupils to self-regulate to the point where they are able to return to lessons.

The Willows

The Willows is a purpose built centre where specialist teachers and therapists work individually or in small groups with pupils in sessions throughout the school day. Specialist teams are also based on the therapy corridor in the main building, where there are dedicated rooms and facilities for occupational therapists and the social and emotional development team.