Carden Primary School

Who we are

Carden Primary School is an urban, community primary school with over 400 pupils on roll aged between three and 11. There are 14 mainstream classes and a nursery.

The Speech and Language Centre for Brighton and Hove is part of our school and caters for pupils from across the city with Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans for speech, language and communication needs.

Carden provides excellent academic, personal and social opportunities for all our pupils and we are dedicated to serving and working with the wider community. The school serves the Hollingbury area, though we have pupils and families from a wide range of areas and backgrounds. We are proud of our cultural diversity.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school?

• BHISS - Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service, which includes:
  educational psychologists; family support workers; primary mental health workers; specialist SEN teachers and specialist SEN practitioners
• EMAS (Ethnic Minority Achievement Service)
• Seaside View - which includes Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and the Children's Disability Social Work team
• School Nurse Team
• Social Services
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Literacy Support Service
• Early Help Coordinator/ITF team
• Dialogue Counselling Service
• Play Therapist

What training and experience have the staff supporting children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities had or having?

We have a wide range of experienced staff working for our children. All staff have a good working knowledge of Makaton signing and most school signs have corresponding Makaton signs used alongside them.  We have specially trained teaching assistants working with children on a one-to-one and group basis, carrying out maths, reading, speaking and listening interventions. We have four learning mentors who offer social, emotional and behavioural support. Two of the learning mentors have received specialist 'Nurture group' training and run our Star class, an intensive 'Nurture group' intervention. We have a number of individual needs assistants trained to support children with very specific needs and who work closely with external agencies to ensure the provision is successfully delivered.

All staff receive training in all areas of SEND, as appropriate. The teaching assistants have bi-termly training - sometimes as a whole group, sometimes for specific interventions. Recently staff have received training on autistic spectrum condition and speech and language vocabulary training.

Accessibility

• Accessible toilet
• Accessible changing facilities
• Hearing loop
• Lower hand rails on stairs

For more information on how we meet the needs of children/young people with SEND at our school, read our SEND Information Report and SEND Policy.