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Devonport High School for Girls

SEN

The Student Support Team is heavily involved in supporting students across all year groups providing bespoke support to meet students need. This specialist support includes SEN support, academic and pastoral mentoring, literacy support, counselling, behaviour and attendance support and links to outside agencies.

We know you want the best for your child and so would ask for your cooperation in keeping us informed of any circumstance that may affect them.
If your child is diagnosed with any new condition after they join us in Year 7 please remember to contact your Head of House to update us and allow us to work with you to support your child. If your child becomes ill and is unable to attend school we will work with you to ensure that their education is not disrupted if at all possible. We will support their reintegration back into school after illness with variety of measures to reduce any potential anxieties?

We know you will be keen to assist us in removing any potential barriers to progress as you are as keen as we are to see your child achieving their full potential in school. If you wish to seek advice about any matter of a confidential nature that may affect the wellbeing of your child, please contact Mrs Ruth Morgan who is the Assistant Head Teacher in charge of Inclusion and also the Designated Safeguarding Lead and also leads on Mental Health.

Student Support Team 

Mrs R Morgan Inclusion Lead /  Assistant Head Teacher
Miss J Ricks  EAL Coordinator / SAGECo / SENCO
Dr D Parry Senior Head of House
Mr E Lamb Head of Sixth Form / Assistant Head Teacher
Ms R Scott Head of House
Mrs L Stacey Head of House
Miss H Crowther Head of House
Mrs V Oliver Nurture Base Manager
Mr Rhys Evans Learning Support Assistant 
School Counsellor Young Devon Counsellors

What extra support do we provide at DHSG? 

At DHSG we can offer a range of support to meet individual needs, the 4 broad areas of need include:

  • Cognition & learning needs
     - Dyslexia, specific learning difficulties etc.
  • Communication & interaction needs
     - Autistic spectrum Condition
  • Social & emotional mental health needs
      - ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders etc.
  • Sensory & physical needs
     - Visual impairment, hearing impairment etc.

At DHSG we use a person-centred approach to ensure we meet students’ individual needs. We strive to build confidence and resilience alongside developing the skills necessary to reduce barriers to learning.

Why and How? 

Students are supported in various ways to meet their individual needs and to build confidence and resilience alongside the skills necessary to reduce their barriers to learning. We seek to enable all children to achieve everything they can to the best of their ability and to prepare them for their future lives, careers and relationships.

We do this by:
• supporting students in lessons
• offering support and guidance
• providing enhanced transition
• linking with psychology services
• linking with outside agencies including the CIT, NHS and many more
• communicating needs to others
• enhancing links with home
• providing a place that feels safe and secure to air concerns
• linking with the school nurse and CAMHS and careers advice
• offering a place for meetings and therapies to take place
• forming a bond between teachers, home and students, carers and other professionals
• offering testing and screening, help and advice
• offering support groups for parents/carers to enhance knowledge and share support mechanisms
• linking to Plymouth City Council advisors in SEND
• providing extended exam technique sessions

 Our Learning Support base is a place for help with home learning and access to advice or support. It also provides a safe environment to share and learn from one another. The Student Support Team work closely with teachers in the classroom to ensure a high-quality curriculum is delivered through a variety of techniques and personalised to meet individual needs. We have staff that are trained to provide the best support possible for your child, and we strive to allow our students to reach their full potential regardless of their barriers to learning. 

What does the Student Support Team offer?  

At DHSG the learning support team currently offer:

• SEN drop-in
• Home learning support drop-in
• Social skills groups
• Anger Management group
• Anxiety Management group
• Confidence and Self Esteem groups
• Young carers support group and guidance
• Exam technique advice
• Counselling service
• Careers advice
• Literacy support
• Support for those with eating disorders
• Extensive confidence and self-esteem courses
• 1-2-1 support for various issues
• Transition and extended transition to higher education
 


Documents and Policies

Please consult the following policy documents on the school websites policy page, for further information: