Outreach

We are committed to supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across our local community. We recognise the challenges that mainstream schools may encounter when supporting pupils with autism and complex needs. In response to this, we have established a structured, tiered Outreach Program designed to provide school staff with the necessary professional development, insights, and practical strategies to support these learners effectively.

Our Outreach Program is grounded in evidence-based practice and current research across the fields of Autism, Communication, Behaviour, and Sensory Needs. Each support package is tailored to the specific needs of the individual school and its pupils.

We draw upon the expertise of our multidisciplinary team, including members of the Senior Leadership Team, our Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, Positive Behaviour Support Lead, Speech and Language Therapist, and Occupational Therapist. This collaborative approach ensures that all feedback, training, and recommendations are informed by professional best practice.

" We engaged in an outreach support programme with Hedgewood School in response to increasing levels of need, particularly relating to autism. The support has been highly collaborative and bespoke, beginning with inreach and outreach visits where Diane Owens (Deputy Head) reviewed our environment, classrooms and teaching practice and provided feedback for leadership. At a strategic and operational level, we have been supported to reflect on our policies and environment and we have begun to review these to enhance their inclusivity.

The programme has also included a whole-school INSET on Good Autism Practice for all staff. Some key staff members have been able to visit Hedgewood to observe lessons and take part in rich and reflective discussions around curriculum, teaching approaches and behaviour support.

The visits highlighted calm, purposeful classrooms with strong teamwork between teachers and LSAs, effective use of breakout spaces, and a wide range of tactile and visual supports to help students regulate and access learning. Staff placed a clear emphasis on warm greetings, recognising students’ emotional states and responding early to prevent escalation.

We have gained some practical takeaways, particularly around using breakout spaces and support staff more flexibly, developing small classroom “toolkits” of regulating resources, and using strategies such as personalised Zones of Regulation to quickly gauge readiness for learning.

 

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of time, expertise and practical wisdom shared by Hedgewood staff. It was a privilege to spend time in such a warm and welcoming school where staff were open, supportive and keen to share their practice. Much of what we have learned is transferable knowledge that will strengthen our inclusive practice across a range of SEND needs. "

Inreach

We offer Inreach opportunities for staff working with autistic pupils in mainstream settings to come into Hedgewood and spend time observing autism practice in action and have opportunity to benefit from staff expertise. Inreach can be arranged at any point in the year via the school office.