SEND & Local Offer

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Pilgrim Pathways School tailors the education programme for each pupil to meet their individual needs and give them the skills, knowledge and resilience to be successful. We aim to support the reintegration of students into full time education in school, further education or employment. The development of students’ resilience, independence and self-esteem is central to all our work.

We provide a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment and identify and challenge aspects of behaviour that contribute to difficulties experienced in mainstream provision. Whilst with us pupils make good progress in learning and we support mainstream schools in the development and delivery of effective strategies to continue the pupils’ successful education journey.

Our Approach

All pupils will be provided with high quality teaching that is differentiated to meet the needs of all learners. Our approach and offer is bespoke to each centre but our main principles of approach include:

  • Each centre teaches on enhanced ratios often 1:1 or small class groups.
  • High level of staffing in classes according to need.
  • Individual Learning Programmes (ILP) are devised in consultation with the multidisciplinary team. This team includes specialist clinicians, nurses and consultants, SALT, Occupational Therapists and Dieticians who take into account the medical needs of all pupils.
  • SEAL programme (social and emotional aspects of learning) underpins our school day.
  • Assessment of potential SEND needs begin from Day 1 of the admission process.

Our Environment

Classroom environments have been designed to meet the needs of the pupils in the specific units. For example: there is a soft room at The Croft and The Darwin which is set up as a nurture group layout. Learning spaces can be adapted to meet the students’ needs and learning preferences. Students can be taught by the bedside where their illness impedes them from accessing the educational setting in some units.

  • The curriculum is differentiated by the teachers in their planning using pupils’ achievement levels, differentiating tasks to ensure progress for every pupil in the classroom.
  • When a pupil has been identified as having special educational needs, the curriculum and the learning environment can be further adapted by the class teacher to reduce barriers to learning and enable them to access the curriculum more easily.
  • These adaptations may include strategies suggested by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) and/or external specialists.
  • In addition, if it is considered appropriate, pupils may be provided with specialised equipment or resources such as ICT and/or additional adult help. Adaptations will be shared with parents often through the Care Programme Approach meetings.

Local Offer

All local authorities working with their partners must publish information about how children and young people 0 - 25 who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported in their area. This is known as the local offer. The local offer includes information on:

  • Universal services that are available to everyone, such as schools, GPs, universal services.
  • Targeted support and services for children and young people who may need some additional, short term support.
  • Specialist services for children and young people who have complex needs and need longer term specialised support.

Cambridgeshire County Council have created a helpful SEND jargon buster for parents and carers:

School Contacts

SENDCo (Whole School)
Nadine Gooding-Hebert
croft@pilgrim.cambs.sch.uk

Headteacher
Nadine Gooding-Hebert
Head@pilgrim.cambs.sch.uk

Each CENTRE has an allocated teacher who is very experienced in dealing with children and young people with special educational and acute medical needs. In the first instance they are the point of contact.