At Spurcroft we aim to:

• effectively identify and provide for all pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) or a disability
• work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure the best for their children, providing support and advice for families where appropriate
• ensure a clear focus on pupils learning essential knowledge
• support the social, emotional and mental needs of pupils with SEND
• provide support and advice for all staff working with pupils with SEND
• raise the aspirations of, and expectations for all pupils with SEND in every sphere of school life

Where can I find support outside of school? 

There are a number of places that offer support for families. Some are specific to a condition, and some are more general. 

• Parenting Special Children is a website for parents with a child of any special need. it offers a variety of support from advising on sleeping problems to trauma and attachment. 
• Mencap is another well established organisation that is UK wide. It has a range of advice and resources.  
• For children with ADHD, The ADHD Foundation is the best website to turn to.  
• In addition the Local Offer - West Berkshire's very detailed information about all the services available to families and young people is found elsewhere on this page. 

Autism

Autism is a neuro developmental condition that affects both boys and girls. At Spurcroft, we have a number of  children either with a diagnosis or on the pathway to assessment.

If your child is accepted on the pathway, your child's class teacher will provide a graduated approach plan which will highlight their needs. Once they have a diagnosis, they will be  placed on the Special Educational Needs Register.

Whether they have a diagnosis or are on the pathway their needs will be met in school through a variety of ways. Most of our children with a diagnosis do not need 1:1 support, nor do they need any further support in the form of an EHCP. 

Many children with ASD present with sensory difficulties. These may be around noise, labels in clothes or difficulties with taste and texture of food which can lead to eating difficulties.

 https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/  has short courses and information for parents about sensory issues.

The waiting list for ASD at CAMHS is now at least two years. At present, CAMHS are not sending the school the diagnostic report directly so parents will need to share this with us. 

Caring for a child with ASD whether diagnosed or not can  be very stressful for a family and cause a lot of worry. The good news is that once your child is accepted on the pathway, you can access all the organisations that are around for children with a full diagnosis: 

• Parenting Special Children - an organisation that provides support for many types of SEND
• SHaRON - an online support hub for parents
• Autism UK - the UK's leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families

ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects three main areas: 

• impulsivity  - acting without thinking
• inattentiveness - not able to concentrate
• hyperactivity - very energetic, always 'on the go'

There is more about these traits on the NHS website. Usually these traits need to be seen in two different places over a period of time.

The route to a diagnosis is through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service).  Their referral criteria can be found here https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/referrals/ 

There is a long waiting list - it currently stands at over two years.

If your child is accepted on the ADHD assessment pathway, then they will be put onto a Graduated Approach Plan. This helps us recognise that your child has a potential additional need. This may include strategies like giving your child something to fiddle with (blu tack is very effective) or a book to write their questions in so that they do not just call them out. It might be giving them exercise breaks. Most of our children in school with ADHD are well supported by their class teacher and do not require an EHCP nor any additional support.