SEND Information

Whiteknights is committed to fostering an inclusive ethos across our school community. We believe that inclusion goes hand in hand with diversity and equality—values we actively promote for all children, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, impairment, attainment, or background. We are dedicated to providing adaptive support and ensuring high achievement for all groups of learners.

Our aims: 

• To meet and support every child’s individual needs so that they feel happy, confident, and valued.

• To treat every child as an individual, encouraging them to reach their full potential as a valued member of our community and wider society.

• To enable every child to achieve their academic potential, access the full curriculum, and be well prepared for the next stage of their education.

We adhere to Wokingham Borough Council’s guidance on SEND provision and follow our SEND Policy, Accessibility Strategy, and Accessibility Action Plan.

Working with External Agencies 

We collaborate with a wide range of professionals to ensure the best support, including:

• Educational Psychologists

• Berkshire Sensory Consortium (hearing and visual impairment)

• Speech and Language Therapists

• CAMHS professionals

• Occupational and Physiotherapists

• Behaviour Support Services

These services help us provide specialist advice, intervention, and resources tailored to pupils’ needs.

Our Inclusion Team 

Our Inclusion Team is experienced, approachable, and regularly trained to ensure the best possible support for our pupils.

SEND Leaders: 

• Mrs L Lewis: Specialises in supporting children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1). 

• Mrs E Connor: Specialises in supporting children in Key Stage 2 (KS2). 

Home School Link Worker & Mental Health Lead: 

• Miss C Collard: Plays a vital role in building strong school-home partnerships, supporting families, and fostering a positive school experience. She also works closely with CAMHS, proactively addressing challenges to create a nurturing environment where all pupils feel safe and supported. 

Contact Details: 

• SEND Leaders (Mrs Lewis / Mrs Connor): senco@whiteknights.wokingham.sch.uk 

• Home School Link Worker (Miss Collard): hslw@whiteknights.wokingham.sch.uk 

  Alternatively, you can contact the school office on 0118 987 2588. 

Our SEND Provision 

We provide support tailored to the needs of each child, starting with early identification of barriers to learning. In classrooms, we use quality first teaching and scaffolding so that all children can access the curriculum.

Provision may include:

• Visual timetables and word/picture prompts

• Small-step teaching and learning

• Sensory and movement breaks

• Specialist resources and equipment (e.g. coloured overlays, sloping desks, seat cushions, ear defenders)

• Purposeful classroom environments designed to minimise cognitive overload

We adopt a “keep up, not catch up” approach to ensure all children remain engaged and supported.

The Graduated Approach: Assess, Plan, Do, Review 
This cycle underpins all our SEND provision: 
1. Assess: Identify a child’s needs in consultation with parents, teachers, and the child themselves.
2. Plan: Develop an individualised plan of support.
3. Do: Implement the plan and monitor progress.
4. Review: Evaluate effectiveness and make changes if necessary.

Children may be supported in class, in small groups, or through 1:1 sessions. If appropriate, a SEND Support Plan is created and reviewed termly with parents.

More information on our SEND provision can be found on the SEND Report below.

Collaboration with Families 

We believe children progress best when home and school work in strong partnership. Families are regularly consulted through:- 

• SEND Support Plan meetings (termly)

• Parents’ evenings and annual reviews (where applicable)

• Additional meetings as needed

We welcome parents to discuss their child’s needs or progress at any time during the school year. For further information, the school’s SEND Policy is available on our website (also below). 

Support from the Local Authority 

If you live in Reading or Wokingham and have a child with SEND, you can access further support and guidance through the SEND Local Offer websites:- 

Wokingham Borough SEND local offer

Reading Borough SEND local offer

Families can also access SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service), a free and confidential service offering impartial advice.