Learning Support Assistant

About Brookfields Specialist SEN School

Brookfields is a special school, part of the Ascendency Partnership Trust with 224 pupils on roll. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an Education, Health and Care plan and are placed in the school by either the local authority or one of the neighbouring authorities. As the school is located in the East of West Berkshire we have a large number of Reading pupils on roll. The school caters for pupils from 2 to 19 years old with PMLD, SLD, MLD, ASD and Sensory Impairment covering a wide range of needs and abilities.

The school’s previous 3 OFSTED ratings have been Outstanding, the last taking place in 2019. Brookfields was also the winner of Reading ‘School of the Year’ Award in October 2014 having been nominated by a parent.

Brookfields has 3 main buildings catering for the Primary School, Secondary School and a newer purpose built KS4/5 building. The school is situated in large grounds with areas designated for Horticulture, including 2 working allotments; one for the whole school and one for Early Years, an orchard with chickens, a wildlife area with a pond, a quiet Sensory Garden with a fountain and plants selected specifically for their sensory qualities and a Multi-Use Games Area. The school also has a hydrotherapy pool on site, a Splash Pool and 2 Sensory Rooms, one with an integrated soft play area and a dark room with specialist sensory equipment.

Pupils in the Upper School take part in overnight activities including D of E Bronze, Silver and Gold, Sports Leadership and team building activities.

Brookfields is a Total Communication Environment. All staff are trained in and use daily the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), other visual support such as Objects of Reference, photos, individual timetables and Makaton signing to support understanding. Small classes and a high level of staff support mean that pupils’ individual communication can be observed and acted upon. Individual pupil motivators are used to increase engagement and all staff follow a comprehensive training programme on joining the school.

Staffing is organised within each Strand by pupil need and is largely determined by the agreed weighting given to each pupil by the authority and school. This means if a pupil is deemed to be operating at ASD4 they will attract more funding than a pupil deemed to be ASD1. These weightings are agreed by the school and authority, based on the needs of the pupil as assessed through the statementing /EHCP process. Some pupils may have an allocated member of staff working with them on a 1:1 basis or more rarely, a 2:1 basis, when behavioural needs, medical issues or sensory impairment mean this high level of support is required for the individual to access their curriculum.

Each class has a teacher or full time equivalent and a Learning Support Assistant within the class. There may then be up to 3 additional assistants within each class to enable pupils to access the educational opportunities at their own pace. Work takes place on one to one, small group and whole class basis and Strands come together regularly in an Assembly, depending on the individual’s needs. Staff within each Strand are trained in Rebound Therapy enabling pupils to access trampolining as an option in PE as well as use of the hydrotherapy swimming pool or swimming facilities locally on a regular basis. The school also make good use of Thames Valley Adventure Playground, the local woods, farm and playground areas and access many other educational visits using the school minibuses.

We have access to Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT), physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Sensory Processing Consultant. The therapists provide on-going support as required to the staff teams and families Our Sensory Processing Consultant (SPC) advises on how to support pupils to access the curriculum and environment, providing equipment and programmes to enable sensory modulation and self-regulation.

We have PDBA (Personal Development, Behaviour and Attitudes) team on site available to help staff and families in supporting their child. The referrals are usually around toileting, sleep, diet or challenging behaviour.

A Family Support Worker is available out of hours to support families in the home or out and about in the local community working on programmes drawn up in conjunction with professionals from within school often to do with eating difficulties, toileting or behaviour. We also have a Family Support Worker who is able to signpost families to other sources of support or to provide that emotional or practical support herself. We have a part-time school nurse and access the community nursing team as required, to help offer further input in the home. The Nurse provides regular training to all staff on the use of medication including but not exclusively epilepsy medication and the use of the Epi-pen and all staff are required to attend yearly refreshers that are pupil specific.

A team of PROACT SCIPr-UK® Instructors train staff in management of behaviour and are available to work individually with pupils if required. All staff have a minimum of 6 hours training on Positive Approaches to Behaviour Management each year and incidents of challenging behaviour are well managed. Behaviour and Safety was rated as Outstanding at our last inspection. We  currently have 3 Emotional Literacy Support Assistants, who work across the school providing pupils with tools to overcome minor problems and working with them in conjunction with their teachers to overcome greater challenges which supports our philosophy of helping pupils manage their own behaviour evident throughout the school.

Parents /Guardians are invited to attend Progress Meetings across the year to discuss how their child has settled and the progress they are making. They are also invited to the Annual Review of their child’s EHCP and other meetings such as medicals and Joint Assessment Clinics held throughout the year at school. Parents /Guardians are invited to assemblies, productions, Sports Day and coffee mornings as well as Stay and Play sessions in Early Years. We hold regular Parent / Guardian courses; Families Matter, Communication and Understanding and Managing Behaviour.