WBIS Supporting Agencies
At West Byfleet Infant School we recognise the importance of seeking specialist advice from experienced practitioners when a child, despite class-based interventions, continues to progress at a rate slower than expected. We are fortunate to have access to a range of support services in Surrey, some of which are County based and some which are run by Virgin Care within the local NHS Primary Care Trust. We pride ourselves in forming very close links with these agencies and recognising the importance of working together to improve opportunities for children in our care.
County-based supporting agencies offer a range of services as follows: Services include:
- Individual pupil consultation
- 1-1 staff development
- Whole school in-service training
- Parent outreach
- A range of staff development courses in learning, language, behaviour and special needs (SEN)
- Bespoke training
- Supporting schools with developing inclusive practices and the SEND Support Arrangements
Support is provided by the following teams, some funded by Surrey and some supported by our school budget.
Learning and Language Support:Specialist teachers, who work with schools, parents and other agencies to help pupils with learning and language difficulties.
Behaviour Support Team: Specialist teachers who work with pupils, parents, schools and other agencies to help manage behaviour difficulties in school and support pupils with their education.
Educational Psychology: Educational psychologists support schools in assessing children's learning and development. They use their specialist skills in psychological and educational assessment techniques to help those having difficulties in learning, behaviour or social adjustment.
Speech and Language Therapy: Therapists offer support to children who experience speech, language, communication or swallowing difficulties through working on communication, understanding, talking, speech sounds and stammering. Therapists work in partnership with children, their families and our school to reduce the impact of these difficulties, to allow them to participate in daily life and encourage them to reach their full potential. Support is provided for where communication difficulties impact upon the child’s participation in daily life. The service is delivered at clinics, in family homes, preschools, mainstream and special school settings. The team consists of speech and language therapists, speech and language therapy assistants and administrative support staff.
NHS Primary Care Trust/Virgin Care Services
Occupational Therapy: Therapists support children with physical, sensory, developmental, perceptual and cognitive difficulties that affect their functional abilities in the areas of self-care, school work, play and leisure. Paediatric occupational therapists work with children through purposeful activity and play to help them maximise their abilities, independence and quality of life. The team works with schools, families and carers to support the child to achieve these aims.
Physiotherapy: Therapists support children to develop their motor skills and to manage their conditions better whilst achieving positive outcomes
CAHMS: CAMHS is the child and adolescent mental health service in Surrey. The service promotes emotional wellbeing and delivers preventative mental health services and treatment to children and young people with mental health problems.
Other Supporting Agencies:
Freemantles Outreach Service: Freemantles Outreach is run as part of Freemantles School, a county-run specialist placement for children with severe communication and interactions skills and who may also have Autism. The Outreach service aims are to support pupils with Autism and related difficulties within their school setting and the staff who work alongside them. This is done through school visits and through providing a range of training opportunities. The team also give email or telephone advice to both parents and professionals.