Our approach to teaching children & young people with SEN

Inclusive education means supporting all pupils to learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of school life alongside their peers. Our curriculum includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also a range of additional opportunities to enrich the experiences of all pupils.

As a special school we are inclusive by our very nature. Every individual pupil joining the school does so with their own story, experiences and background – it is our role to include them in our school and successfully re-engage them in the educational process and prepare them for post16 life.

Elemore Hall is a large SEMH Special School. We have three dispersed sites. Two school sites providing for 90 KS3&4 pupils each and one site for 20 KS4 pupils only. 200 pupils in total.

In the two main sites we aim to have eleven groups of around eight pupils. There are two class groups in each year plus one mixed age class for a small number of pupils who need additional academic or social support to access the curriculum that the main body of the school studies. There is usually a teacher and a LSA in every lesson.

The KS4 only site is for pupils who have extreme SEMH needs and whose education cannot be best met within one of the larger sites. These pupils all have an individual timetable.

Pupils are expected to follow a mainstream secondary style curriculum, in that they follow age appropriate courses (where possible) that eventually lead to the opportunity for pupils to achieve recognised accreditation – usually in the form of GCSE or BTec.

Outside the classroom, pupils are supported in their social/unstructured time during the day with a variety of clubs and activities being on offer at break and lunchtimes and also a high number of staff on duty to ensure that support is always available. Beyond the classroom day the school offers the opportunity for all pupils to become involved in after school activities until either 5, 6 or 8 pm. Up to 45 pupils are resident at the school for part of the week. These activities after the normal school day provide structure and support for pupils to develop their personal, social and independence skills – all whilst they are hopefully having a good time.