SEND Unit
Here at Dorchester, we have a long history of strong, inclusive practice. We welcome children of all abilities and aim to create a safe haven for them to flourish. Over the past few years we have welcomed a large number of children with additional and complex needs, all of whom have made our school a better place to be.
In September 2023, with the support of the Local Authority, we officially formalised our internal support classroom into a SEND Unit for up to twenty children, all of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan, with Communication and Interaction as their primary need. Places are commissioned by the Local Authority and all places have been full since formalising.
After further consultation with the Local Authority around the demand for specialist places in the local area, we increased the number of places to thirty in January 2026.
Children in our SEND Unit have access to a bespoke, purposeful curriculum focussed on meeting their individual needs. The spaces in our SEND Unit have been carefully thought out to provide a safe, secure environment for children to flourish. We have a team of experts who have significant experience of working with children with complex needs and who undertake regular training to ensure their knowledge is kept up-to-date.
Each classroom is staffed by a qualified, experienced teacher, supported by at least two skilled Achievement Support Assistants (ASAs).
Curriculum
First and foremost, the curriculum offer in our SEND Unit is flexible so that it meets the developmental needs of individual children. Our aim is that all of our children learn to communicate and interact, create and explore and become independent (learners/life skills)
Children will access a progressive curriculum offer, starting with a focus on communication for our Social partner stage children, with an emphasis on exposure to relevant areas of the Early year’s curriculum (when ready.)
Children at the Language/Conversational partner stages will access a progressive offer dependent upon each child’s developmental needs that will begin with access to a blended offer of a provision that meets individual targets, blended with access to areas of the EYFS Curriculum/National curriculum.
We have adopted the HET Fundamentals of learning assessment documents, which is taken from the SCERTS communication model curriculum. This provides a systematic method that ensures that staff are able to assess developmentally, a child’s abilities and deliver opportunities for learning appropriate to each child’s communication stage. Along with these, staff assess against personal targets taken from EHCPs and any other relevant documents.
Developing a culture of sensory support is important to ensure that all children are able to process information, co-regulate and interact in a calm manner. At Dorchester SEND unit, we have access to a sensory room in all classrooms in order to support our children.
We believe that independence is important for our children and when developmentally ready, children can access AQA units of work, focusing on life skills to ensure that they are ready for their next steps in the journey through school and life.
Termly Newsletters
Please take a look at our termly overviews:
Want to find out more?
If you'd like to find out more about our SEND Unit, the work we do and/or come and visit our setting, please contact the school on 01482 825207 and ask to speak to our SENDCo: Mrs Chironda or our Assistant SENDCos: Miss Townsend and Miss Ashton.
