At Wickersley Partnership Trust (WPT), we have invested heavily in our provision for students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), and additional needs – marking a significant shift towards more inclusive and supportive education within our schools.
Over 1.6 million students in England [Gov UK] have special educational needs (SEN), which is an increase of over 100,000 since 2023, and indicates a continuous rising trend since 2016 due to more awareness of conditions like ADHD and Autism, and widened diagnostic criteria.
Recognising the complex challenges faced by these students, our Trust has implemented strategies, bespoke interventions and customised learning environments to give these learners more opportunities to flourish outside of mainstream school.
On Friday 9th May, we invited Rotherham Labour MP, Sarah Champion, to take a look at the progress that has been made in the last two years, and to highlight our Trust’s commitment to continuous improvement, and the positive impact of these changes on student wellbeing and engagement.
Sarah was joined by our CEO, Helen O’Brien, School Improvement Partner, Annie Lee, and Director of SEND, Caroline Oxborough, for a tour around some of our schools and provisions including The Orchard at Brinsworth Whitehill Primary School and Magna Lane at Foljambe Primary School.
Some of our initiatives that we discussed were:
Potty Parties
Last year’s School Readiness Survey by Kindred Squared found that 1 in 4 children starting Reception were not toilet trained. This lack of readiness not only affects individual children but also disrupts classroom learning. To ensure this trend does not persist throughout Foundation Stage, our Trust has introduced ‘Potty Parties’ which transforms toilet training into a positive and engaging experience for children. It’s also one of the ways that we are collaborating with families so that all children can begin their educational journey ready and confident.
Dummies
Over the last few years, teachers are seeing an increasing number of children coming into school with dummies on a national level [TES]. As the NHS recommends weaning babies off the dummy between 6 and 12 months [NHS], we now have a ‘Dummies Left at the Gate’ rule, where no dummies are to be left with the children during school time.
This is designed to support the early development of independence and self-confidence in our youngest learners. By leaving dummies at the gate, we can help these children transition smoothly into the school environment – helping them feel secure in new routines.
Investments in Staffing
Since opening our new provisions, we have also invested heavily in staffing, employing three new Education Welfare Officers to replace the services that the LA don’t operate anymore.
Education Welfare Officers assist in the development of the partnership between home and the school, working with parents to help them understand and fulfil their legal responsibilities in relation to attendance – ultimately helping to get more children into school.
To also get the best out of the children, each class within our provisions has one teacher and a teaching assistant to support everyday learning.
Helen O’Brien, CEO at Wickersley Partnership Trust, said: “Our Trust’s provisions stand as a testament to what can be achieved through determination, creativity and a deep commitment to student welfare.
“With no dedicated funding for these provisions, we have to make tough decisions, reallocate limited resources and repurpose existing spaces – like transforming the old caretaker’s bungalow to create a supportive environment for those who need it the most.”
Thank you to Sarah Champion MP for visiting our schools and recognising the vital role these provisions play in supporting those who need a different approach to education.
