Supporting pupils with SEND

At Stoke Damerel Primary Academy, inclusion sits at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every child should feel safe, valued and successful, and we work hard to ensure that all learners — regardless of their starting point, needs or background — can “Dream big and achieve together.” Our approach is rooted in the belief that children thrive when they feel confident, emotionally secure and understood. Because of this, we create a warm, nurturing environment where pupils are supported intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically so they can reach their full potential. 

We pride ourselves on being a highly inclusive school, celebrating diversity and recognising that pupils may need different levels of support at different times. Through our comprehensive Core Offer, teachers provide high-quality, adaptive teaching that reduces barriers to learning across all four areas of need: communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health, and sensory and physical development. Our classrooms use predictable routines, visual supports, calm spaces, scaffolding and consistent language to help every child access the learning environment

Our Inclusion Team, led by experienced SEND specialists, works closely with staff, families and external agencies to ensure early identification of needs, personalised support, and a joined‑up approach. Using the Graduated Response (Assess–Plan–Do–Review), support is continually reviewed so that children receive exactly what they need to progress. We believe strongly in collaboration — children’s voices help shape their plans, and parents are valued partners throughout. 

We also make inclusion visible beyond the classroom. All school trips, clubs and activities are open to every child, with adaptations made wherever needed. Emotional wellbeing is supported through our ELSA team, regulation spaces, and trauma‑informed practices. Specialist professionals, such as Speech and Language Therapists and Educational Psychologists, work with us to strengthen provision and equip staff with high‑quality knowledge and strategies. 

Overall, our rationale is simple: every child deserves the chance to feel successful, included and proud of who they are. Inclusion is not an add‑on at Stoke Damerel Primary Academy — it is woven into our culture, our teaching, our relationships and our daily practice. We are deeply committed to ensuring that every child experiences success, joy and belonging in our community