Provision and interventions

at Westfield School

At Westfield School, therapy support is an important part of how we help children learn, communicate and become more independent.

All children at Westfield School have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and many benefit from support from Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT).

Our therapists are private specialists who work closely with teachers and support staff as part of the school team.

Working together to support your child

• Work with individual children
• Support small groups
• Teach whole-class sessions
• Observe children in lessons and play
• Train staff to use therapy strategies

What does 'Embedded Therapy' mean?

At Westfield School, therapy is embedded into the school day. This means therapy support happens during lessons, play, routines and movement breaks. Because therapy happens throughout the day, it may not always look like separate therapy sessions — but support is happening frequently and consistently.

Universal Support (for all children)

• Visual timetables and communication aids
• Movement and sensory breaks
• Strategies for communication skills
• Fine and gross motor activities
• Weekly Forest School
• PE and sensory activities
• Calm spaces available in classrooms

Targeted Support (for some children)

• Small group programmes
• Communication skill development
• Motor skill support (e.g. handwriting, coordination)
• Sensory regulation activities
• Social communication aids and strategies
• Individual assessments
• Short-term specialist programmes
• Support for specific complex needs

How will I Know what support my child receives?

• Conversations with your child’s class teacher
• Termly parent meetings
• Annual Review reports and meetings
• Short-term targets (APDR — Assess, Plan, Do, Review)
• Parent workshops led by therapists

Assessments and Reports

When children first join Westfield School, therapists spend time getting to know the students through observations and trying different strategies. Formal reports may be written as part of ongoing support, and for Year 5 secondary transition.  Therapists work together with class staff to write Assess Plan Do Reviews (APDRs) as well as reports for the annual review (Multidisciplinary Team Report).

Our aim at Westfield School

• Communicate confidently
• Regulate bodies and emotions
• Develop independence
• Build important life skills
• Take part fully in school life

Please read our policy in full (below):