SEND information -(please click to view)
The SEND Local Offer website has all the local services to help
Find out what is on offer from Central Bedfordshire Council at
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/SEND
​SENDco - Mrs Olivia Bates (National Award Qualified SENCO)
SENDco - Blossom class - Mrs R Waters
​Deputy SENDco - Mrs  van Vuuren

Totternhoe is a fully inclusive school. We firmly believe  that all children can make great individual progress and do so in a supportive  happy  community.
 We  work  closely with families and actively encourage parents and carers to come into school to meet with class teachers and Mrs O Bates (SENDco ), Mrs van Vuuren (main school) or Mrs R Waters (Pre School).
We hold My Plan meetings termly, when small achievable targets are set with  you and your child.  But our open door policy means we can meet more regularly if your child's needs are greater. 
Click here for a flyer about SEND support that is available to you!
​  
Squirrel  Squad (nurture provision)
We have worked closely with the Jigsaw centre to develop and open a nurture provision at Totternhoe. This is  based in  our brand new Nurture and Music room, it is a small group of between  6- 8 children. 
Nurture groups are now in over 1500 schools in the UK and give children the skills to do well at school, make friends and deal more confidently and calmly with the trials and tribulations of life, for life.
Nurture groups are developed around six principles of nurture:
  • Learning is understood developmentally
  • The classroom offers a safe base
  • The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing
  • Language is a vital means of communication
  • All behaviour is communication
  • The importance of transition in the lives of children and young people.
Nurture groups are founded on evidence-based practices and offer a short-term, inclusive, focused intervention that works in the long term.
Two members of staff run squirrel squad. The children will attend the nurture group but remain an active part of their main class, they will continue to register in class, and in the mornings complete literacy (or Read Write Inc) in their sets and maths as they do already. They will spend appropriate times within the nurture group according to their need and typically return full time to their own class within two to four terms. Nurture group runs on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. The children are from a mix of year groups. Their class teachers  provide the planning for the term and the nurture staff adapt learning activities that the children  complete whilst in nurture. This means they will come across the  same topics that they would be seeing in class, just in a smaller group.  By being in nurture children do not miss out on learning opportunities, they  gain more attention and time from the adults in the group.
The Nurture group assess learning and social and emotional needs and gives whatever help is needed to remove the barriers to learning. There is great emphasis on language development and communication. Nothing is taken for granted and everything is explained, supported by role modelling and demonstration. The relationship between the two staff, always nurturing and supportive, provides a role model that children observe and begin to copy. Food is shared at 'snack time' with much opportunity for social learning, helping children to attend to the needs of others, with time to listen and be listened to.
As the children learn academically and socially they develop confidence, become more responsive to others feelings, learn self-respect and take pride in achieving. This is especially important at times of transition, for example moving up a year group or changing schools. The nurture group gives children time to reflect on the time in their current class and start to explore worries or concerns about a forthcoming change. The nurture group has  access to the computer room, so that research can be competed as and when needed.
Nurture groups have been working successfully for more than 40 years in the UK and now in other countries including Canada, New Zealand and Romania, and have been praised, supported and recommended by organisations such as Ofsted, Estyn and HMIE.
We review each child’s needs and wishes as the term progresses, some children may spend longer in nurture than others. Each child is unique and we will be guided by them, in consultation with you.
 
If you would like to speak to any of the Nurture staff they are available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3 – 3:30pm.
Intervention groups 
At Totternhoe it is  part of school life to be part of a  group outside of the normal classroom  day.  We  strive to extend and  stretch all children's learning and development to achieve a greater depth of understanding. 

Small group  work is carried out for:
​
Fine motor (hand writing)
Social skills games group
Computing  club
5 minute daily keep up phonics (RWI)
​LEGO Therapy

KS1
More able maths
More able  English
Keep up maths games
Keep up  writing
Brain Biscuit club (after school for invited children)

KS2
More able maths
More able  English
Keep up maths games
Keep up  writing

A note is sent home each term informing parents/ carers if their child is to be part of a group.  The groups are moved around the school day  each half term.
If you would like more  detail please  speak to your child's class teacher. 
Parent Partnership

Please click here for more information about the independent  advisory service called parent partnership. 

There are a number of useful information booklets that you can  access here. 

Annual Reviews  a5_annual_reviews.pdf
EHC Needs Assessment 
Looking at Schools
Meetings
Personal Budgets
SEND Support Plans
Starting School
Understanding the Jargon
http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/children/sen-disability/send-partnership/events.aspx

or contact them:

www.facebook.com/CBCSENDPYPPS
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/parentpartnership
​

​
Please see below flyer for the Central Bedforshire Council SEND Parent and Young Person Partnership Service information, advice & support Spring Term Drop Ins held in local Children’s Centres together with a leaflet regarding our service.  
Further information regarding our service is available online via Central Bedfordshire Local Offer:
 http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/children/sen-disability/send-partnership/overview.aspx
 
CBC SEND Parent & Young Person Partnership Service
Direct Dial: 0300 300 8088
Email: cbcsendpypps@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
​