Alt Bridge School

Special Needs Policy
SEN Information Report

Alt Bridge School is an outstanding specialist provision, catering for students aged 11-19 with EHCPs in Knowsley. Our students have a range of needs which include Autistic Spectrum Conditions and associated needs, mild to moderate learning difficulties, specific learning difficulties and speech, language and communication needs.

We offer the full national curriculum which is enhanced to meet the needs and aspirations of our learners through enrichment options and supplementary sessions for mindfulness, life skills, healthy living and self-regulation skills. Our careers programme is overseen by our Thriving Curriculum leader and careers leader and covers the requirements of the Gatsby Benchmark. In Key Stage 5, students can engage in a range of work experience options both on-site and off-site through our key community partnerships.

Our school site offers a range of facilities to provide learners with a broad and balanced curriculum, rich learning experiences and a range of enrichment options. We have three sensory rooms, four therapy spaces and a wellbeing hub, staffed by five learning mentors who provide a range of therapeutic interventions. We commission specialist support from high-quality services such as Bridge Speech Therapy, Music Place, The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Foundation, OSSME Autism Initiatives, The UK Military School and Shine Therapy Services for Occupational Therapy. Our unique offer of support ensures that our students access the support they need in order to meet their Education, Health and Care Plans outcomes.

We are an attachment and trauma aware school and have achieved the school Wellbeing Award through Optimum Education. We are also a Rights Respecting School and have a strong commitment to our equalities work.

Alt Bridge School is a caring and supportive learning environment, where students thrive and receive every opportunity to develop the skills they need in order to lead successful adult lives. We equip our learners with key self-regulation skills through our use of the Zones of Regulation programme and also restorative approaches in order to maintain positive relationships within our school community. Our aim is to enable our learners to become independent and successful adults, who can gain employment, maintain positive relationships, achieve good mental health and wellbeing and achieve their best possible educational outcomes.

We offer a wide range of qualifications up to GCSE level across the curriculum and continue to review and develop our offer of courses in key stages 4 and 5 in-line with the needs and aspirations of our students. Our post-16 centre became part of our school from September 2021 and has offered more places to Alt Bridge school leavers. Our post-16 centre boasts some excellent facilities which include a fully equipped catering kitchen, hair and beauty salon, food technology area and high-specification classroom spaces.