The Den is a safe, calm and quiet space in school where the children are looked after and supported by the school’s inclusion team.

The children who use this space have been chosen to be supported through a number of different interventions due to concerns that have arisen in the classroom, playground or from requests from home.

The programmes delivered via The Den aim to make learning accessible to all by removing barriers related to SEND or Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH). The Den enables staff to provide personalised curriculums (both academic and SEMH) to pupils in a safe and inclusive environment. 

The personalised curriculums for learning, behaviour and/ or emotional wellbeing have been devised in consultation with outside agencies and parents / carers.

Key principles for the learning and support provided to children in the Den are:

• To support pupils in building life skills to support communication, relationships, health and independence.
• To be adaptive in meeting the individual needs, interests and strengths of each pupil, meeting individual pupils’ EHCP or SEN support Plan outcomes.
• To focus on developing the key skills in communication, cognition, physical development, health and wellbeing and understanding of the world to equip pupils for a life beyond school.
• To promote positive wellbeing, experiences and enjoyment in learning for all pupils.

• Ultimately, we want all of our pupils to be the best that they can be and have high aspirations for themselves.

A space for calm and reflection:

In the Den we have created a space that children can come to when they feel dysregulated. Mrs Nandra (SENDCO) and Mrs Buckle (School Mentor) are always available to help the children to talk through their emotions, feelings, worries or concerns whilst in a safe and calming space.  

The Den has a sensory room which has become a very important space for some of our children who present with sensory dysregulation or just need a calm and quiet space for some time to reflect on their feelings and behaviours.

 

A space for learning:

Equality and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do at St. James so that all children are provided with the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Our aim is to ensure that our students achieve their full potential, regardless of differentiating needs. Most of the children that access the Den for learning will have significant or complex needs that may prevent them from learning successfully alongside their peers in class. The Den is a space that aims to remove (environmental and sensory) barriers to learning and provides all children with a space where they can learn safely, comfortably and calmly.

These children will work on achieving their specific outcomes through an adapted, personalised curriculum and approach. Pupil’s will also receive specialist interventions to support their specific SEN Support Plan or EHCP outcomes. These interventions include, but are not limited to, Bucket Time (based on Attention Autism principles), Social Stories, Funky Fingers/ fine motor development, Sensory Circuits and Social Stories.