At West Horndon Primary School, we understand and celebrate every child as an individual and are proud to be an inclusive school. This is reflected not least in our enhanced provision for children with specific speech and language disorders. This provision is based in Chestnut Class.
Children within Chestnut Class have access to intensive speech therapy sessions and a high adult:pupil ratio. The statutory curriculum is delivered through quality first teaching to meet every child's needs and ensure their progress.
Admission into our enhanced provision is managed differently to the general school admissions. Places are allocated through joint collaboration of the NHS speech therapy services, West Horndon Primary School and the local authority. Children being admitted into Chestnut Class will have an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or through negotiation, with ourselves and the local authority, can be admitted on an assessment placement whilst an EHCP is being sought.
Despite the bespoke needs of children with speech and language conditions, we also recognise that developing social skills beyond the classroom and opportunities to communicate with a wide range of people is also highly valuable. As such, we endeavour to offer a range of chances for children from the enhanced provision to integrate with their mainstream peers and Chestnut Class are very much part of the school community. In addition, regular opportunities to communicate and practise developing speech and language skills are provided through a regular variety of educational visits that promote speaking and listening.
We welcome visits to Chestnut Class for prospective parents of children with speech and language disorders and are more than happy to discuss the provision and/or the application process in more detail. Please contact Mr Jepson, the SEND and Inclusion Manager, for the provision, via the school office to make an appointment or for an informal discussion.
For general information about our special educational needs provision, choose the SEND & Disability option in the 'About Us' tab, or simply click on the link below.