Headteacher

Description of Colnbrook School

Colnbrook School was built soon after the Second World War, to serve the newly developed London County Council estate. In 2012, Colnbrook's designation was expanded by the Department of Education. As a result, the school is now formally recognised to cater for children with: 

• Learning Difficulties;
• Autism Spectrum Disorder;
• Speech and Language Difficulties.

In addition, Colnbrook School offers advice, support and training to approximately 150 mainstream schools as part of Hertfordshire's response to inclusion. This service is called Outreach.

Profile of pupil needs of Colnbrook School

All pupils are subject to Statement of Special Educational Needs and have been placed at the school following a local authority assessment. At present, the school has 99 children between the ages of 4 and 11 years (from reception through to Year 6).

School Provision

• 11 Classrooms - organised into 3 Curriculum Planning Groups (KS1, Y3/4; Y5/6);
• Jigsaw – a specialist Speech, Language & Communication facility for selected KS2 pupils;
• Whiteboard, computers and iPads in every classroom;
• ICT suite;
• Performing Arts Studio;
• Two Food Technology rooms;
• KS1 Outside classrooms (covered areas);
• Soft Playroom;
• Sensory rooms;
• Sensory corridors;
• Sensory gym (covered);
• Sensory garden areas;
• Garden allotment area (with raised beds);
• Wildlife areas (for curriculum support);
• Light & sound facilities in school hall;
• Adventure playgrounds (Key Stage specific);
• Creative zone playgrounds;
• Enclosed sport & games facility (MUGA);
• Two libraries - Key Stage specific;
• Kiln;
• Meeting/Training Room;
• Two 17 seater minibuses and one 8 seater ‘People Carrier’.

Staffing (as of January 2015)
There are 20 teachers at Colnbrook, including 6 part time staff (5 who work for the Outreach Service). There are 40 Teacher’s Assistants (TAs), many of whom are part time of varying amounts.

Staff Training
The school has a long history of promoting and supporting accredited training and, wherever possible, university fees are paid in full by the school. As a result, we have several members of staff who have gained a degree or post-graduate qualification in autism. We have also funded foundation degrees for Teaching Assistants who have expressed an ambition to become teachers in the future.
The school also offers a wide range of non-accredited training opportunities to all staff in order to develop skills and knowledge.

Inclusion
We have well established links with two local primary schools:

• KS1 pupils enjoy an afternoon of music and play with Warren Dell pupils;
• Years 3 and 4 join with St Joseph’s pupils for P.E.;
• Years 5 and 6 pupils have individual integration experiences at both schools.

Additionally, KS2 pupils regularly join their mainstream peers at Sporting and Dance Festivals, organised by the local Sports Partnership arrangements.

Outreach Support Service
The school is commissioned to provide over 500 sessions of Outreach Support per year, to approximately 150 mainstream schools across the south and west of Hertfordshire.

Speech, Language & Communication (SL&C)

• Hertfordshire County Council provides SL&C therapy via a Service Level Agreement with the local Health Trust. Colnbrook is currently allocated six sessions that are delivered by Speech & Language Therapists. The Health Authority also funds a full time Language & Communication Assistant (L&CA) to work across the school.
• The Governing Body prioritises communication as a primary focus for the school and, as a result, employs two additional L&CAs out of the main school budget.
• To complement the S&LT provision, the school also funds a specialist SL&C base – called Jigsaw – for Key Stage 2 pupils with complex and significant language needs. This is staffed by the SLCN teacher and a L&CA. Jigsaw provides a daily input of approximately one hour for approximately 10 pupils, shared across two groups, from Key Stage 2. Additionally, it provides a weekly programme of social communication and interaction support for up to 12 pupils from Key Stages 1 and 2. 
• Communication development is also supported by a specialist Performing Arts facility, funded from the school budget.

Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy
Following a medical assessment, individual pupils receive visits from the Health Occupational Therapist and/or Physiotherapist. Wherever possible, class staff incorporate any advice into the child’s day to day educational programme.

Music Therapy
The school currently receives one session per week of private music therapy (coordinated through the Hertfordshire Music Service). This is purchased through a combination of:

• School budget - where the therapist works with a small group of pupils from Rainbow class each week.
• Parental fees – where the therapist are paid by the parent to work on an individual basis;

Educational Psychology (EP)
The majority of the school’s EP sessions are allocated to Year 5 (secondary phase transfer) assessments. However, where appropriate and needed, the EP will carry out assessments of pupils in other year groups (for example, where it is felt that a child may need to transfer to a different type of school). Parents are given the opportunity to meet the EP in order to discuss the outcomes of the assessment and always receive a written report (normally within three weeks of the assessment).

Quality Mark Accreditation
Colnbrook has gained - and maintained – several quality marks and awards since 1995 (see the www.colnbrook.herts.sch.uk website for reports and further details).