At Walton, inclusion is the lifeblood of our school and we work tirelessly to ensure that our ethos of Moving Forward Together is true for every single pupil.
We strive to ensure that every single child who is part of our school family has the absolute best, and we work tirelessly to remove any barriers and equip our children with the skills to achieve. Inclusion is in our nature, and every single child brings something unique that makes our school what it is. We believe that support for families is equally as important, and offer a full suite of support for parents. We strongly believe and endeavour to achieve maximum inclusion for all. Inclusive education means we value each child as a unique individual and we establish inclusive values ensuring that there are high expectations for all, striving to enable our children to participate in the life and work of the school to the best of their abilities. Our children are naturally inclusive, and we ensure that all children have access to the full breadth of the curriculum and school life.
More Information
See below for more information about how we support our pupils with sensory and/or physical needs:
Classroom Aids
All our classrooms offer clear classroom layouts, clear and consistent signage with dimming lighting systems and anti-glare screens. We offer range of alternative equipment such as sloping boards, pencil grips, foot rests, weighted blankets, wobble cushions, fidget toys, chew toys, ear defenders, coloured overlays and coloured paper.
Technological and Intervention Aids
We also use technology and auxiliary aids to remove barriers, such as iPads, enlarged texts, C Pens, adaptive keyboards and radio devices, as well as alternatives to written recording when appropriate. Specific programmes included in our core offer also support children, such as Funky Fingers, Dough Disco, Teodorescu Perceptuo Motor Programme and more.
Sensory Engagement
Our aim is to offer a range of sensory strategies to either help children to increase their level of alertness, or arousal, or to reduce alertness. The goal of using sensory strategies within school is that they can help a child to reach the level of alertness required to attend and focus on their learning in the classroom. Strategies like movement breaks and wobble cushions are typically designed to help children to increase alertness and focus.
Sensory Diet
We offer a type of sensory diet so that children do not reach sensory overload – this is used as a proactive approach to meeting need. Sensory provision ranges from sensory breaks to access to bespoke sensory circuits, or more focused intervention.
Access for All
We are committed to ensuring that pupils with sensory and physical needs can access all aspects of school life. Reasonable adjustments are made to the environment, resources and curriculum to promote independence, participation and inclusion. Our site is accessible for pupils who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids, and we work closely with families and external professionals to ensure that individual needs are understood and appropriate support is in place so that every child can thrive within our school community.
Our SEND Team
Our entire school is passionate about SEND and inclusion and Mrs Jopling is our SENCO. Contact school or arrange a visit if you’d like to know (or see) more. We have a highly-skilled staffing team that offer an incredibly high level of provision, and ensure that our children can thrive.
Equality Act 2010
At Walton we are aware that children may require minor adaptations and reasonable adjustments as described in the Equality Act 2010 in order to access the school environment. Our aim is to remove barriers to learning and participation in order to provide additional, and different to, provision to meet individual needs where required.
Our SEND Team
Our entire staffing team is dedicated to ensuring the best outcomes for all of our children and all staff support children with sensory and/or physical needs. Staff with specific roles are below:
- Mrs Jopling – SENCO
- Miss Rust – Learning Mentor