Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Welcome to the SEND department.

Avonbourne Academy’s mission is to help our students to believe in their own individual 
talents in order to empower them to reach their full potential. We achieve this through 
offering a safe and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and respected, and 
by providing a personalised programme of support.


Avonbourne Academy aims to encourage the development of each individual student, 
to motivate their self-belief and sociability, to remove barriers to learning and to ensure 
that every student has the opportunity to fulfil their maximum potential.


The Learning Support department is led by Mrs. A. Brittain (SENDCo), Miss S. Truesdale
(Deputy SENDCo and Girls’ SEND lead) and Dr. K. Sholem (Deputy SENDCo and Boys’
SEND lead) and supported by Miss K. Hermon (Assistant to the SENDCo). It comprises
of a team of specialist staff who support students across the two Academies. 

We are located in A block, close to Visitors’ Reception, and our facilities include 2 teaching
rooms, an ELSA / Nurture area and a sensory room.

Interventions include:
  • Nurture- helping students to learn socially, nurture groups help to develop 
    confidence, become responsive to others, learn self-respect, raise self-esteem 
    and take pride in behaving well and achieving.
  • SALT- Speech and Language Therapy
  •  Social language and communication support
  •  ELSA- Emotional Literacy Support Assistants are specialist teaching assistants 
    who have been trained to support children with emotional difficulties.
  •  Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Homework clubs
  • Bespoke small group support
  • Dyslexia Support

We work closely with a range of external agencies who provide specialist support and advice for individual students depending on their needs. These agencies include:

  •  SALT (Speech and Language Therapy)
  •  Educational Psychologist
  • Community Paediatrician
  •  Occupational Therapist
  • CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service)
  • Physiotherapist
  • Hearing and Vision Support Services
  • Local Authority SEN/ Inclusion Team
Assessment and monitoring:

All students who enter the Academies complete baseline testing. This information is used alongside other data to identify students who may require additional support. Intervention sessions are provided to target specific development needs and the progress of each student is monitored closely. Students who do not make progress in light of interventions are placed on the SEND register and further interventions may be offered. The SEND register is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that students are moved through the SEND stages of the Code of Practice in an accurate and timely manner.

Support from Learning Coaches:

Classroom teachers and Learning Coaches ensure that support is effective and builds upon learning in lessons. Learning Coaches often work with small groups of students to develop particular skills and regularly make use of multi-sensory teaching to pre- and post- teach basic skills and concepts, that will lead the student to make progress in the lessons.

Inclusive education:

We pride ourselves on being fully inclusive and all students attend mainstream lessons with their peers, to ensure they gain the highest specialist subject

knowledge from their teachers. Staff at the Academy are continually receiving CPD on how to support a variety of additional needs, therefore in line with the DfE Code of practice, Quality First Teaching is at the heart of support for students with SEND.

For further information on BCP’s services and provision to supporting parents and young people please see the local offer.

The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole SEND Local Offer - BCP Council

United Learning Hub

United Learning comprises: United Learning Ltd (Registered in England No: 00018582. Charity No. 313999) UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee.
Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

Financial Accountability and Freedom of Information

United Learning