Working with Outside Agencies
In order to meet the needs of our pupils we work closely with a variety of outside agencies. The School Nurse visits the school regularly to support pupils, advise staff, to talk to parents and to train support staff. On admission the nurse meets new pupils and their parents/carers in order to take a brief history and to ensure the necessary treatments, medications and dressings are available in school. She also makes sure the immunisation programmes are kept up to date and co-ordinates check ups with other professionals.
All medication to be administered at school should be sent into school in its original box with the name of the child and the dosage clearly displayed. Support staff are trained in the administration of medication.
The School Doctor
The doctor visits the school on a regular basis to conduct medical examinations arranged by the nurse. Parents are asked to attend these. Where necessary, pupils can be referred to specialists.
The school physiotherapist and occupational therapist
Pupils who need physiotherapy and occupational therapy as identified in their statement, are seen by our therapists at school. The physiotherapist and occupational therapists visit the school once or twice a week. Trained support staff ensure that therapy programmes are continued throughout the week.
Speech and Language Therapy
We have our own speech and language therapist based at the school. The therapist carries out an initial assessment to determine how best to meet a child's individual needs. This may be in the form of small group work, individual sessions or following a programme developed by the therapist and delivered by teachers in liaison with support staff. The therapists also often work alongside teachers in the classroom.
Staff have had training in working with pupils with speech and language difficulties We also have a teacher with responsibility for managing our speech and language therapy provision.
The Educational Psychology Service and the Specialist Teachers Team
Where the school requires additional support in meeting a child's needs a referral is made to the Educational Psychologist and to the Specialist Teachers Team. Issues such as working with pupils with specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia) visual or hearing impairments, emotional and behavioural difficulties or more general concerns relating to a pupil’s placement at Brent Knoll may result in a referral being made These professionals are able to provide advice and support for staff and parents, when the expertise required is greater than that available from within the school staff.
An educational psychologist visits the school on a regular basis.
Support from other Professionals
The school is well supported by professionals from the Children and Adolescent Mental Health team and the Neurodevelopmental team at Lewisham Park. Pupils can be referred to these support services by the school or through a family doctor. In addition the service holds regular advice sessions for parents and carers at the school.
The Educational Social Worker
The attendance and punctuality of pupils is monitored carefully by the school and this information is passed on to the school attendance officer.
Persistent lateness and non attendance is followed up by the school attendance officer.
Art Therapy
We currently employ a part time art therapist She works with individuals and small groups of pupils that are referred to her. She works closely with parents.
School Counsellor
Our part time school counsellor provides psychotherapeutic support via individual counselling for pupils referred to her by school staff.
Learning Mentors
We currently have three learning mentors who work mainly within the secondary department. Their role is to support young people considered to be at risk of not achieving as well as they could for whatever reason, for example through emotional or behavioural difficulties, personal circumstances or disaffection with school.
Outreach Work
A large area of the school’s work is the support it provides for mainstream schools through its outreach service. Advanced Skills Teachers and advisory teachers from Brent Knoll are available to visit and give advice to schools on how to meet the special educational needs of pupils in mainstream classes. We also provide training opportunities for teaching and support staff from mainstream schools.
