SEND
Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) at Inglehurst Infant School
At Inglehurst Infant School, every child is valued, included and supported to achieve their full potential. We believe that all pupils — including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities — learn best in an environment where they feel safe, understood and able to participate fully in school life.
Our commitment is to remove barriers to learning through high‑quality teaching, inclusive‑by‑design classrooms, and personalised support, so that pupils with SEND thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Our Approach to SEND
We follow the SEND Code of Practice and provide:
✓ Full access to a broad and ambitious curriculum
Pupils with SEND learn alongside their peers wherever possible. We adapt teaching, scaffold tasks and use clear routines and visuals so that all children can access learning meaningfully.
✓ Inclusive‑by‑design classrooms
All our classrooms include:
- visual timetables
- pictorially labelled resources
- consistent routines
- language‑rich, communication‑friendly environments
- high‑quality modelling and scaffolds
These universal features support pupils with communication, interaction, sensory or cognitive needs.
✓ Inclusive‑by‑design lessons
Lessons are intentionally structured, so every child feels welcomed, represented, and able to access learning in ways that meet their individual needs.
- Diverse representation in stories, examples, and classroom resources, ensuring all children see themselves reflected.
- Clear visual supports (symbols, images, objects) to aid understanding
- Minimal, uncluttered information on slides to prevent cognitive overload
- Explicit adult modelling, scaffolded support, and regular repetition to build confidence
- Tasks chunked into small, manageable steps to support skill development and maintain engagement.
- Activities designed with multiple ways to participate, such as drawing, talking, hands‑on materials, gestures or communication boards.
- Consistent lesson structure, offering predictability while intentionally supporting the development of core skills and foundational knowledge
- Praise that prioritises effort, perseverance, and growth, over outcome
- Activities designed to create opportunities for success, helping children see themselves as capable learners.
- Access to sensory supports, including sensory objects, wobble cushions, fidget tools, brain breaks, and calm‑down spaces.
✓ Graduated, personalised support
Where pupils need additional help, we use the assess–plan–do–review cycle to create individual support plans and interventions adapted to the child’s needs.
The Nest: Our Specialist Internal Provision
For a small number of pupils with more complex SEND—primarily communication and interaction needs, including autism—Inglehurst Infant School provides an enhanced internal provision known as The Nest.
The Nest offers:
- a highly structured, nurturing environment
- bespoke teaching and support tailored to individual needs
- small-group learning and 1:1 support where appropriate
- clear pathways that outline levels of curriculum access and inclusion
- opportunities for supported inclusion into mainstream classes when appropriate
Children in The Nest remain part of our school community, taking part in wider school life with support, while benefitting from a personalised environment designed to help them thrive.
A full page about The Nest is available on the main inclusion menu.
Inclusion Lead
Mrs Ellis, our Inclusion Lead and Designated Teacher for Looked‑After Children, coordinates SEND provision across the school. She works with families, class teachers and external agencies to ensure every child receives effective, high‑quality support.
To speak with Mrs Ellis, please contact the school office on 0116 2622479 or email office@inglehurst-inf.leicester.sch.uk.
Working With Parents and Carers
We work in partnership with families by:
- discussing concerns early
- agreeing personalised support plans
- reviewing progress regularly
- offering guidance on supporting learning at home
We want every family to feel informed, heard and involved.
Our Commitment
At Inglehurst Infant School, pupils with SEND are supported to:
- access the full curriculum
- feel safe, confident and included
- develop communication, independence and resilience
- enjoy enrichment and wider opportunities
- make strong progress from their starting points
Every child matters. Every child belongs. Every child can succeed.