SEND & Curriculum
At Lowerhouses CE Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child can access and thrive within a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum. Our approach is rooted in our vision of Working and Achieving Together to Enrich Lives and Nurture Bright Futures 🌟.
We recognise that learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may require additional scaffolding to access learning meaningfully. Across all subjects, staff plan carefully to remove barriers, reduce cognitive load, and foster independence 💛.
How We Support SEND Learners Across the Curriculum 🌈
| Supporting Literacy ✏️📚 | Supporting Vocabulary Retention 🔑🧠 |
| • Checking reading ages and adapting texts 📝 • Reading aloud, visual prompts, simplified summaries 👀 • Highlighting key words + dual coding 🔤 • Sentence starters, writing frames, modelled examples 🧩 • Extra processing time ⏳ |
• Explicit teaching of hinge vocabulary 📘 • Low‑stakes quizzes & recall activities 🎯 • Age‑appropriate definitions + real examples 💬 • Revisiting vocabulary throughout units 🔁 |
| Supporting Numeracy 🔢 | Supporting Conceptual Understanding 💡🌍 |
| • Pre‑teaching maths concepts ➕ • Visuals: number lines, timelines, graphs 🗂️ • Step‑by‑step modelling of multi‑step tasks 👣 • Concrete resources for hands‑on learning 🎲 |
• Practical, hands‑on activities (role play, artefacts, images) 🎭 • Pre‑teaching in small groups 🤝 • Revisiting key ideas across lessons 🔄 • Support from curriculum‑confident staff 👩🏫 |
| Supporting Change & Transition 🔄📅 | Supporting Attention 👀⭐ |
| • Consistent lesson routines & structures 📘 • Visual timetables / Now–Next boards 🧾 • Advance notice of changes 📣 • Clear explanation of purpose & outcomes 🎯 |
• Lesson hooks and curiosity questions ❓ • Chunked activities + movement breaks 🧠➡️🧠 • Dual‑coded instructions 🖼️ • Interactive tasks to maintain engagement 🎧✍️ |
Subject‑Specific Adaptation and Challenge 🧪📖🎨
Teachers plan for subject-specific barriers and provide targeted support.
Examples Across Subjects
| Barrier / Challenge | Strategy | How This Supports Lowerhouses CE Primary |
| Complex vocabulary | Pre-teach with visuals, stories, repetition | Uses our diverse community & curriculum themes |
| Limited prior knowledge | Small-group pre-teaching | Supports EAL & SEND learners equitably |
| Extended writing difficulties | Sentence frames, modelling | Builds confidence and communication |
| Memory and retention | Retrieval practice, storytelling | Links to identity & community narratives |
| Sensory/cognitive needs | Multi-sensory resources | Aligns with our HIARP expertise |
| Low writing motivation | Creative alternatives (drawing, role play) | Celebrates strengths and builds engagement |
Our Golden Threads for Learning 🧠✨
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Language & Communication 🗣️📚
Prioritising vocabulary, talk, reading and writing across the curriculum. -
Practical, Hands‑On Learning 👐🎭
Using concrete, experiential tasks to build understanding. -
Equity & Inclusion ❤️♿
Ensuring all learners can access, experience, and enjoy the curriculum. -
Knowledge, Skills & Connections 🔗🌍
Helping children link ideas, revisit concepts, and build strong foundations.
