THE-ACORN-CENTRE-Tiered-Approach-for-Behaviour-Support.pdf

See each individual tab below for more details

Ordinarily Available Provision is an expectation within mainstream schools to meet Universal/Plus, SEMH needs in the classroom  This is outlined in the SEND Code of Practice

‘High quality teaching, differentiated for individual pupils, is the first step in responding to pupils who have or may have SEND. Additional intervention and support cannot compensate for a lack of good quality teaching’.

(SEND CoP 0-25 2014)

 

To support your teaching and support staff within your setting, it is key they become familiar with the following documents and websites:

SEND Code of Practice

 SEND-Code-of-Practice-January-2015.pdf

Ordinarily Available Provision 

Click here – Ordinarily Available Provision Document

Hertfordshire Local Offer

Frequent training is also key to inform and educate staff around the 4 broad areas of need. For the children we work with at The Acorn Centre, struggling with their emotions and behaviours, the majority have needs within the SEMH area.

There are many training offers available on the Hertfordshire Local Offer Website.

Click here - Local offer – Service directory

DSPL9 also offer frequent newsletters and signposting to various free and costed training opportunities to support your pupils. 

The Acorn Team, Chessbrook ESC and DSPL9 are working together collaboratively to create offers of support for schools finding behaviour challenging with individual or groups of pupils - with SEMH needs

If you would like to request Tier 2 support please click here

Some options we have to offer at Tier 2 level:

Peer support  - We will be in attendance at SENDCO cluster meetings -  available to provide advice and signposting

SEMH solution circles 

Specialist advice - Provision Leads to observe and support schools with behaviour needs. 

TA surgeries

We aim to work with SENDCOs across DSPL9 to gather further ideas around what would be useful for schools at this level of need. 

Other support already available for you within DSPL9 for SEMH needs...

A whole class approach to behaviour management may be required for some cohorts. This may include targeted training around communication, behaviour management, tranisitions and routines. 

Key teams who can support you with this are:

Speech Communication Language and Autism Team (can be accessed through a single service request referral to Children's Services )

EY advisory Team (can be accessed through a single service request referral to Children's Services. )

Chessbrook ESC - Online referral or registration to the Chessbrook Talks 

 https://www.chessbrook.herts.sch.uk/extended-roll/primary-outreach

Speech and Language Therapy Team - https://www.hct.nhs.uk/-children-and-young-people-speech-and-language-therapy-training

Chessbrook provides primary outreach support for all primary schools in the DSPL9 area with the aim to reduce the risk of fixed term and permanent exclusion.

Chessbrook offers a range of Specialist child specific outreach interventions to primary schools for children with significant needs, whose behaviour is still impacting on themselves and/or others after the implementation of strategies from DSPL9 Tiers 1 and 2.     

https://www.chessbrook.herts.sch.uk/extended-roll/primary-outreach

Tier 3 - Chessbrook Primary Outreach intervention opportunities

Support from Chessbrook includes:

• Working to support schools to meet the needs of named children

• Weekly outreach mentoring

• Advice and strategies for SENDCos, teachers and key staff from an expert primary teacher

• Counselling from a qualified practitioner for up to half a term

• Reflect & Relaunch (or similar working) multi-family group programme

• Therapeutic Thinking support including risk reduction plans

• Observation and feedback

• Transition support for Year 6 into Year 7

Tier 3 Referral link

https://www.chessbrook.herts.sch.uk/extended-roll/primary-outreach 

Tier 4 behaviour support is provided by The Acorn Centre Team for children at risk of permanent exclusion.

What is ‘The Acorn Centre’?

The Acorn Centre is a ‘Primary Behaviour Support Provision’ under the leadership of Warrendell school, based in South Oxhey. The Provision is overseen by Executive Head Teacher – Danni Harte. The daily running of the provision is the responsibility of Sarah Kenny, Provision Lead.

Who does ‘The Acorn Centre’ support?

The Acorn Centre offer a short term package/block of support for Primary aged children at risk of exclusion or permanently excluded from schools within the DSPL 9 area of Watford, Three Rivers, Bushey and Radlett.

The provision provides interventions for pupils with SEMH needs that run in parallel to their school provision. ‘SEMH’ is an umbrella term for children who demonstrate difficulties with social interaction, emotional regulation and/or are experiencing mental health challenges. 

Pupils’ needs may present as challenging, detrimental, disruptive or dangerous behaviours in their mainstream school settings. Their needs could also manifest as anxiety or depression, oppositional/ demand avoidance or more severe conduct issues including aggression, physical behaviours and/or self-harm.

What is the purpose of ‘The Acorn Centre’ support?

The purpose of our support is to be a supportive partner for school teams, offering advice and recommendations for strategies to implement in school, based on our observations and work with children; ultimately to reduce each pupils’ risk of exclusion.

Our ‘Acorn behaviour support packages’ aim to promote positive relationships and experiences for each pupil. This may include a focus on developing self-esteem, social skills and the ability to demonstrate socially acceptable and positive learning behaviours.

There are various different support packages available, based on the needs of each individual pupil, which are discussed and allocated to schools who are successful at Tier 4 panel. The initial packages of support offer various ‘in reach’ or ‘outreach’ support, SEMH focus group sessions and parent - child group sessions.

The Acorn Centre as a premisis offers an alternative environment to primary aged children for up to 3 terms. Outreach Services may be offered in the school setting alongside the child's 1-1 adult or in the Acorn Centre with the specialist teacher, depending on the level of need presenting. At Tier 4 children will remain on roll at their primary school with schools required to be fully involved throughout their placement. School staff will be required to attend meetings relating to the children they are responsible for and supporting their reintegration.

To find out more about our Behaviour Support Packages - see tab below. 

 

To make a referral for support at Tier 4, please continue to the Referral Process tab for more details.

/support-available/tier-4-referral-criteria 

If a child is permanently excluded, The Acorn Centre can provide day 6 (3 for CLA) provision until the Governors’ meeting – For Primary aged pupils. This is a decision made between Hertfrodshire Fair Access Team and The Acorn Centre.

PLEASE NOTE: Admission of children at Tier 5 will always be prioritised but permanent exclusion will not always mean The Acorn Centre provision is appropriate for individual children.