Welcome to Willowbank Primary School's SEND page.  My name is Haidee Frost and I am very proud to be the SENDCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).  I hold the National Award for Special Educational Needs (NASENCO) qualification and am passionate about supporting our children at Willowbank.  Our school aims to be a fully inclusive school which caters for the needs of all our children.  We pride ourselves in working closely with our SEND children and their families to ensure they achieve their full potential.

Our approach to meeting the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities helps us to meet important school aims:

• To provide equal opportunities for all

• To foster respect for, and understanding of, the differences between individuals

• To maintain high expectations of all children

• To teach each child according to his or her strengths, aptitudes and needs

• To create an environment in which children feel safe, secure and happy, in which they are listened to, and in which their views are respected

• To work in close partnership with parents and carers, and to maintain effective two-way communication with parents and carers

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More details about our provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as children with special medical needs, including our approach, policies, what Devon offers and other useful information is available on the First Federation Trust website here.

You can contact me with any questions or queries on 01884 33473, e-mail me personally at

Haidee.Frost@firstfederation.org.uk or make an appointment at the school office.  I can also be found most mornings at the school gate so please do not hesitate to speak to me then.  I look forward to answering your questions.  

Autism and Us’ Parent Programme (Spring Term 2025)

The ‘Autism & Us’ programme and associated themed/topic based workshops will be delivered each term of the academic year, by members of the SEND Communication & Interaction Team at Devon County Council.

They continue to offer access for parents and carers of CYP (Children & Young People) who are currently on the neurodiversity assessment pathway, in addition to families of CYP who have received an autism diagnosis.

Attending the ‘Autism & Us’ parent programme gives you opportunity to develop your understanding of autism and look at practical solutions to managing and supporting your child’s presenting needs, whilst also connecting with other parents/carers.

Full programme details and application process below:

Autism & Us programmes:

• 4 weekly ‘live online’ sessions (approx. 2hrs each) related to the following topic/themes:
• weekly ‘live online’ sessions (approx. 2hrs each) related to the following topic/themes:

1. Autism overview

Tues 21 Jan – 10:00 – 12:00
Thurs 6 Mar – 16:30 – 18:30

2. Sensory

Tues 28 Jan – 10:00 – 12:00
Thurs 13 Mar – 16:30 – 18:30

3. Communication
Tues 4 Feb – 10:00 – 12:00
Thurs 20 Mar- 16:30 – 18:30

4. Understanding and supporting behaviour

Tues 11 Feb – 10:00 – 12:00
Thurs 27 Mar – 16:30 – 18:30

Apply direct by email to: educationlearnersupport@devon.gov.uk
to secure a place on either of the above programmes, or express your interest for forthcoming programmes.
Your booking request will be confirmed, and you will be provided with a direct link to the event. They will be delivered on line ‘live’ via the Microsoft TEAMs platform.

Additionally they will also be offering the following very popular themed/topic based workshops, which lead on from the above programmes for themes/topics that may be a priority area for you against your child’s presenting needs:

• Introduction to DIAS (Devon Information & Advice Service + the Ambassador Volunteer Programme Tues 1 Apr 10:00-12:00
• Autism – Sensory processing + integration Tues 25 Mar 09:30-12:30
• Autism and Girls Weds 12th March 09:30 – 12:00
• Autism – Demand avoidance + PDA Thurs 13th Feb 10:00 – 12:00
• Autism – Communication (Speaking children – support strategies) Tues 11 Mar 10:00-12:00
• Autism – Managing stress + anxiety Thurs 20 Mar 10:00-12:00
• Autism – Vulnerability + online safety Thurs 27 Feb 10:00-12:00
• Autism – Communication (Non/Limited Speaking children – support strategies Thurs 6 Mar 10:00-12:00

Apply direct by email to: educationlearnersupport@devon.gov.uk
to secure a place on any of the above topic based workshops. They will confirm your booking request, and provide you with a direct link to the event. They will be delivered on line ‘live’ via the Microsoft TEAMs platform.

Once a month I hold a Parent's SEND/ parent support cafe in our lovely library or new training room.  It is a chance for parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to join me and discuss topics such as behaviour, sleeping, referrals, eating and any issues relevant to parents at the time.  It gives you a chance to meet others who have children with additional needs and feel supported and listened too.  

The next SEND cafe will be held on 9th December at 9am!  Biscuits and coffee/ tea provided.

All parents welcome

 The focus will be on supporting our SEND children at Christmas time.

SEND Quiet Disco- 12th February 2025

Transition to Secondary School 2025 -

Our Year 6 SEND/ EHCP children.

The Year 6 children will be allocated a secondary school place for September 2025 this Spring Term.  If you are a parent/ carer of a SEND/ EHCP  pupil in Year 6 I wanted to inform you that Miss Gibbs and I have already booked a meeting with Mr Baird (Year 7 Head at CCC) to support an advanced transition for your child.  If your child is hoping for a specialist secondary school placement I have already spoken to prospective schools and we will be waiting on placement announcements.

Following this, children will get to visit their new secondary school in the Summer Term.   

Ofsted Inspection January 2023.

Willowbank Primary School is incredibly proud of its SEND provision and this was highlighted by our recent Ofsted inspection.  The report stated:

 'Leaders have high expectations for what all pupils can achieve, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders have created a curriculum that is designed well. They have carefully considered what pupils need to know and when they need to know it'.

and 

'Leaders are ambitious for what pupils with SEND can achieve. Pupils’ plans are precise and regularly reviewed. Staff know pupils well. This is particularly the case for pupils with social and emotional needs who attend the learning hub, known as the ‘Willow Branch’. As a result, pupils with SEND receive the support they need to enable them to access a broad and balanced curriculum.'

Many of our children find discos, loud noises and lots of people overwhelming.  I will be holding an alternative disco for your children in the school library between 5.15-6.15pm on 11th July 2024.  Your child will be able to hear the music in the background and play with LEGO, DUPLO, do colouring activities, watch the bubble lamps and sit in a darker environment.  I cannot wait to see your child for a different but inclusive disco experience.  

The Friends of Willowbank have been incredibly generous in fund raising for our children with Dyslexia.  With all their efforts we have been gifted this amazing selection of dyslexic friendly books to support our children.  The books enable our older readers to have books age appropriate but on specially coloured paper and at their own reading level.  

I cannot thank you all enough for your support, fund raising and for helping our SEND children.

THANK YOU!

Haidee Frost 

SEND Film Evening- 21st October 2021

It was fantastic to have our end of Autumn half term film evening and to hold a special SEND showing.  The children who required a quieter and calmer environment, with fidget toys and sensory lights were able to watch the film with myself and Miss Hayman.  The feedback was amazing and I cannot wait to do this event again.

SEND Code of Practice

In September 2014, the new SEN Code of Practice came into force. This resulted in some changes to the way schools and local authorities ensured that the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were met.

There are four areas of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities for which provision is made for:

• Communication and Interaction
• Cognition and Learning
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health
• Sensory and Physical

At Willowbank Primary School we support your SEND child through quality first teaching, Universal Provision and seeing learning through the eyes of a SEND child.  Please click on the stars below for information on each area.

What does this mean to me?

From September 2014, all local authorities must publish in one place information about the services they expect to be available in their area for children and young people 0 - 25 who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is known as the local offer.

The development of a local offer is one of a number of changes to the way children and young people with SEND are supported that are part of the Children and Families Act. Schools will also publish an annual Special Educational Needs Information Report, which will outline what individual schools are able to offer in order to support children and families with SEND. 

What will the local offer cover?

The local offer will include information about health and social care services, education, leisure activities and support groups in the area for children and young people aged 0 - 25 with SEND and their families.

There will be information about:

• services and support available
• how children and young people's needs are identified and assessed
• the way schools, colleges and maintained nurseries support children and young people with SEND
• how to access services and how decisions are made
• preparation for adulthood and independence
• arrangements for making a complaint and mediation
• how to comment on the local offer

The Department for Education's draft SEN Code of Practice and regulations outlines the range of information to be included in the local offer.

Why is the local offer important?

The local offer will help parents, carers and young people to see clearly the range of services and support that are available in their local area and understand how to access them.

You can find information about local services available to young people from 0-25 who have SEND by clicking this link: Local Offer

SEND information report

From the 1st September 2014, under Section 65 (3) (a) of the Special Educational Needs (Information) Regulations, all schools are required to publish a SEND Information Report on their school websites.

You can read the SEND Code of Practice and Willowbank's SEND information report below.

Information on our Trust's Equality Duty objectives and approach to SEND are available here.

Transition support for our SEND children.

Willowbank Primary School understands that transitions can be difficult for a child with SEND and we therefore take steps to ensure that any transition is as smooth as possible. Enhanced transitions will be carried out as appropriate for individual children where needed.

Entering our school from pre-school/ nursery:

• The EYFS Unit Lead and myself (SENDCo) will meet with the pre-school/ nursery SENDCo and the parent/ carer to discuss your child's needs and provide an enhanced transition through a TAF in the summer term.  

When moving to a new year group:

• Information will be passed on to the new class teacher in advance and a planning meeting will take place with the new teacher. All PLPs and EHCPs will be shared with the new teacher and your child will be offered support in the summer holiday through a postcard from the teacher and SENDCo to know we are thinking of you.
• An enhanced transition booklet to support them changing year group will also be offered.
• Your child will be given lots of opportunities to visit their new classroom and teacher.

In Year 6:

• The SENCO/ Year 5 and 6 Unit Lead will arrange and attend transition meetings with the SENDCo of their secondary school.
• Your child will do focused learning about aspects of transition to support their understanding of the changes ahead.
• Your child will visit their new school on several occasions and staff from the new school will visit your child in our school (if COVID restrictions allow).
• All records of your child will be passed to the secondary school.

If your child is moving to another school:

• We will contact the school SENDCo and ensure he/she knows about any special arrangements or support that need to be made for your child.
• We will make sure that all records about your child are passed on as soon as possible.