Learning Support & SEND

Mental wellbeing: the ability to cope with life’s problems and make the most of life’s opportunities. It is about feeling good and functioning well, both as individuals and collectively. It is independent of mental health status

DH (Department of Health) (2011) ‘No health without mental health: a cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages’, London: DH.

Ensuring young people with additional needs who learn differently feel good, function well and have the ability to cope with life's problems is what we are all about in Learning Support.  This fits with the culture of Tewkesbury school which clearly states as one of its core principles ‘of paramount importance to us is the safety and happiness of our young people‘.

Whether difficulties in Learning, Communication, Physical or Mental Health we want to constantly review how we support our young people to ensure we do all we can for them to have good mental wellbeing at Tewkesbury School. 

As a department, we follow the evidence of what works. With Teaching Assistants, teaching staff having training and support in any programme they deliver, with Lead TA’s as subject specialists and input from outside agencies on intervention programmes we implement. 

We are proud of our role as an advocate for SEND students at all levels, whether it is ensuring students’ needs are on passports linked to confidential seating plans, right up to applying for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s) for those with the most complex and long term needs to ensure they have legal support and protection until they are 25. 

We want our young people to take part in all areas of school life and see our role as helping them in the first instance being classroom ready so they get the most from subject teachers. We’re not fans of students being regularly educated in small corners of the school.  Students have a right to a broad and balanced curriculum. Beyond that we want them to be 'life ready' and we are currently working on our additional offer life skills curriculum. 

Currently SEND students at Tewkesbury School obtain accreditation and have clear places for their next steps.  However, most importantly we want them to be ready for the world, feeling good and functioning well.  As life is full of challenges we want to work with our whole school community to achieve this. If a young person is placed on the SEND register, family members and carers are joining that network too. 

The Team – an eclectic mix of life experiences and expertise all wanting the best for SEND students. Each qualified TA is also a Keyworker for at least one student with an EHCP.

Ms R Hawtree:            SENDCO - Head of Learning Support - rachel.hawtree@tewkesburyschool.org

Mrs A Hek:                  Lead Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Primary liaison link 

Mrs C Brownhill:        Lead Teaching Assistant to English Faculty

Mrs P Donnelly:          Lead Teaching Assistant to Humanities Faculty

Mrs H Parkinson:        Lead Teaching Assistant Social Emotional Mental Health 

Miss R Avery:              Teaching Assistant

Mrs G Barnes:             Teaching Assistant

Mrs C Bishop:             Teaching Assistant

Ms T Byrne:                 Teaching Assistant

Mrs F Cull:                   Teaching Assistant

Mr M Green:                Teaching Assistant

Mrs J Green:               Teaching Assistant

Miss P King:                Teaching Assistant 

Mrs M Piesse:             Teaching Assistant

Mrs A Pullin:               Teaching Assistant

Mrs K Vallender:         Teaching Assistant, initial contact for medical needs information 

Miss M Smith:             Apprentice Teaching Assistant

Miss C Moran:             Apprentice Teaching Assistant

We appreciate that there is a lot of written material around SEND. Below you will see a growing collection of videos on supporting different areas of SEND, created by our SENDCO at Tewkesbury School. These give information and answer frequently asked questions and we hope you find them useful.

Tewkesbury School’s Local Offer - click here to listen to the presentation 

Dyslexia & Other Literacy Difficulties - click here to listen to the presentation

Autism - click here to listen to the presentation

Managing anxiety - click here to listen to the presentation

Introduction to exam access arrangements - click here to listen to the presentation

In the documents below you will find information on:

  • Welcome letter
  • Different Levels of Support
  • SEND Report 2020-21
  • Our Local Offer Written Document

Useful Downloads