Tailored Learning
HOW WE TALK ABOUT SEND AT OLDERFLEET PRIMARY
We don’t talk about ‘special needs’ because we recognise that we all have learning needs that differ. What we do talk about is ‘tailored learning’.
Being a neuro-affirming school
This means we constantly adapt our teaching and environment to track and match the unique learning and developmental journeys of every child in our school. It’s our job to unlock each child’s learning journey and not create unnecessary barriers to learning. Tailored learning is embedded in the daily life of the school and in our classrooms.
Our approach is anchored in research, experience, wellbeing and nurturing principles. We want all children to belong, rather than feel excluded or ‘other’.
How we do it
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- Weekly Learning Journal
- Reading mentors
- Accelerated Reading
- Toe by Toe Literacy Programme
- Book Clubs
- Catch up maths
- Neuro-affirming physical environment
- Connect & Nurture Sessions
- High Five Friday
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- Olderfleet Huddle
- Theraplay Informed Practice
- Lego Therapy
- Headway: Individual Wellbeing Support
- SBEW Plan
- Day Mapping
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- RISE
- EA Local Impact Teams
- Educational Psychologist
Our Experience
Our whole staff team have a strong track record in tailoring learning to suit our children. Each new challenge is a new opportunity and we have a commitment to make things work for every child. We are fortunate in Olderfleet that our Senior Leaders both have in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in the area of SEND. They both have a strong conviction and understanding of the responsibility educators and leaders carry for our children’s lives. They lead our staff to aim high for each child and every time our expectations are more than exceeded.
Emma Brownlees
SENCO/Senior TeacherThree paragraphs with Emma’s experience
Rachel Galbraith
PrincipalRachel Galbraith taught in inner city Belfast before moving to a role in behaviour support where she directly supported children in schools across Mid and East Antrim with their Social Behaviour and Emotional Wellbeing (SBEW) needs.
Following this she led the teams who developed the Department of Education SBEW Guidance for schools across NI, the chapter on SBEW in the EA Graduated Response Framework and the EA Plans Glossary. Rachel also worked on the Regional Guidance for the Department of Education Funded Nurture Settings.
Rachel has shaped core EA training delivered to thousands of staff in schools across NI including Calm Plans, SBEW Plans, Day Mapping, Supporting a pupil with a Statement for SBEW, SBEW & Neurodiversity, Early Years Transition, High Five Friday, Connect & Nurture and the Whole School Together Programme.
The Hive
Our teaching adapts to suit every child, not the other way around.
Our Hive (Specialist Provision Social Communication) is designed to help children thrive when they need that extra support, space or targeted teaching approaches.
Sadly, school is often a place where we expect children, who learn in different ways, to adapt to fit neatly into our preferred way of teaching. Not in Olderfleet. We believe it’s our job to adapt to the children and tailor our approach and environment to empower them to achieve their full potential. The Hive is as integral to our family of learners as any other class with the children joining in swimming, football tournaments, assembly, school trips, etc.
Click on the links below to see our class in action and find out how Emma Brownlees went about setting it up.
What our parents say