Inspire at Washington Academy                

Inspire is an additionally resourced provision within Washington Academy which provides support for students who have significant difficulties with Cognition and Learning. There are 27 Inspire places, commissioned by Together for Children on behalf of Sunderland Local Authority. 

Our Core Purpose: 

To provide young people from year 7 to year 11 who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), who have not made expected progress through their previous school years due to a learning difficulty / Cognition and Learning and need to be supported in small classes with access to mainstream classes where appropriate. 

How places are allocated: 

• The placing authority is Together for Children on behalf of Sunderland City Council. The young person will have significant and persistent difficulties with literacy, numeracy, or motor co-ordination despite regular attendance.  

• The child will have an Education, Health and Care Plan with Cognition and Learning as a primary need. 

• All applications for a place must be made through the statutory assessment process. 

• The application will be considered by Together for Children at the resourced panel meeting following statutory assessment. The Panel will be chaired by the SEN Strategic Manager Team Manager.  

• The Panel will consider available places, whether the entry criteria for the provision are met, needs of other pupils attending the ARP and advise on the placement. It is expected that places will be balanced across the different year groups. 

Transition: 

• All students with an Inspire place will receive an extended KS2-KS3 transition programme led by the provision manager. Students will be invited to weekly transition activities alongside peer mentors and tailored to their individual needs. 

• Students in Year 10 and 11 will work closely with their own named careers adviser and undertake bespoke trips to post-16 establishments to ensure a smooth transition which meets their individual needs. 

What we offer: 

Due to our students Cognition & Learning needs they access a curriculum which is both academic and therapeutic. We are committed to a ‘Stage not Age’ curriculum. We believe that any single year level standard can appropriately easy or unrealistically difficult for out Inspire student. This holistic offer is based on an individual approach. Student progress is tracked through a three-stage process: Build, Develop and Progress. 

 

Our academic offer
Stages	Language and Communication and the arts.	Science, Tech, Environment, maths, vocational.	Society, culture, Outdoor, service learning.
Progress	Reading wise  Community project, Teamwork skills.	GCSE Core subjects with support  GCSE Options with support.  Real maths- Shopping   Managing Money, Digital	King's Trust replacing Geography/History  Independent travel 5-10 graduation.   Online safety   PHSE  Careers, Understanding world of work.   Work experience.
Develop	Guided Reading   King's Trust level 1-2  Community project, Teamwork skills.   Nurture English with support.	Life skills – Money skills   Nurture Maths, Science   Entry level   King's Trust Entry level 1-2, managing money digital skills   Time	King's Trust  Independent travel 3-4 Merit   Online safety   Preparation for adulthood.  Work experience (optional in house).
Build	English within class TA support 1-2  Phonics  King's Trust entry level.  Community project, Teamwork skills	Maths and Science – with in class TA support 1-2.  King's Trust Entry level  Money Role play   Time   123 Maths	King's Trust  Understanding the environment.   Independent travel stage 1-2 starter   Preparation for adulthood.

 

*Academic offer 

• Robust Read, Write Inc Phonics Programme staged through ability not age. 20 minutes four mornings a week during form time. Delivered by trained SEND staff. Graduation ceremony. For more information on our literacy offer throughout the academy click here. 

• Guided Reading programme to enhance reading fluency and comprehension delivered by SEND staff. 

• Functional numeracy via morning interventions delivered by SEND team. 

•  Step Up qualification.  

• King’s Trust – Development and employability qualification recognised by employers. Entry level -Build, Level 1-2 develop The King's Trust | Confidence, courses, careers 

 

Therapeutic offer
Stages	Language, Communication, arts.	Science, Tech, Environment, maths, vocational.	Society, culture, outdoor, sensory and learning
Progress	Peer mentoring/student voice   Emotional resilience   Visual to signal emotions   Lego Therapy   Mediation self-regulation   School Councillor   Sensory Time	King's Trust  Visits Discovery/Centre for Life	Extracurricular clubs   Visits Beamish
Develop	Time to Talk  Emotional resilience   Visual Emotions   Lego Therapy   Mediation self-regulation   School Councillor   Sensory Time Drawing Therapy	Sensory Garden	Extracurricular clubs    Social skills and role play   Alan Shearer Centre visits
Build	SALT   Emotional resilience   Visual Emotions   Friendship Program   Lego Therapy   Fine motor senses   Mediation self-regulation   School Councillor    Sensory Time	Pronoun pals	Road safety   Sensory Circuits   Online safety   Extracurricular clubs   Alan Shearer Centre visits

 

Therapeutic offer 

• Sensory room 

• Outdoor sensory garden  

• Time to Talk is an intervention that encourages small group discussion on current topics in society and the wider world. The conversation is driven by topic from The Day. These sessions are run by SEND specialists who can differentiate the topics for our students.  

• Lego Therapy is a play-based therapy which support students with primarily communication and interaction additional needs. This intervention is appropriate for students with social emotional and mental health needs as it is gentle and stress relieving.  

• Art Therapy is a group session where students take part in different art-based activities as well as engage in group discussions. The Art and discussions are based on themes which change each week. These themes can be targeted to students' current social needs, meaning this intervention is very flexible. 

• Sensory Circuits are an intense and adventurous physical programme aimed to meet students sensory needs to support the regulation of their emotions.  

• Meditation and Mindfulness programme is a 4-week programme teaching various mindfulness techniques. The remaining sessions will include various coping strategies to support students SEMH needs. 

The Inspire provision and SEND team understand that students may also have additional needs such as: 

• Communication and Interaction 

• Social, Emotional and Mental Health  

• Sensory and/or Physical Needs 

Our staff work closely with the students and families to help meet the needs of our students and all students have a designated key worker.  

 

If you wish to talk to somebody about Inspire, contact the SENDCo on 0191 580 4956. Alternatively, you can email: 

Inspire Provision Manager at joanne.hindmarch@consilium-at.com 

Assistant Headteacher and SENDCO at alex.taylor@consilum-at.com 

Assistant SENDCO at lyndsey.watson@consilium-at.com 

 

You can also find additional information and support by clicking here which will take you to the Sunderland local offer.