Outreach Support for Children with SEND

Tailored strategies, personalised assessment, and curriculum support for pupils with complex SEND

Mainstream schools are supporting more pupils with complex SEND than ever before. Sunningdale School’s Senhub Outreach service provides high-quality, practical and flexible support to mainstream primary schools and early years settings seeking to strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including children with complex needs requiring alternative curriculum approaches.

Drawing on Sunningdale School’s expertise as a centre of excellence for specialist provision, the outreach service offers objective, professional advice and coaching tailored to each school’s context.

Our work focuses on capacity-building, sustainability and impact, enabling schools to develop confident, inclusive practice that meets the needs of all pupils – Support that builds staff expertise, not dependency.

Who it’s for:

School Leaders, SENDCos, teachers, and curriculum leaders supporting learners with complex SEND, including PMLD, SLD, MLD, and other learning needs.

What We Offer:

Consultancy & Observation

Initial online discussion with staff (and parents/carers if required).
Observation of pupils to identify learning characteristics and individual needs.
Support to define provision to meet those needs at either an individual level or in defining specific curriculum pathways (for larger SEND bases and special schools).
Signposting to appropriate developmental assessments and alternative curricula.
Recommendations for environmental adaptations and resources.

Professional Development & Staff Training

Workshops & drop-in sessions: Focused on challenges observed during implementation.
Peer observation & learning: Opportunities to see Sunningdale’s practices in action.
Reflective practice sessions: Support staff in evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and adjusting pedagogy.

Implementation Coaching

On-site follow-ups: Scheduled visits to observe how strategies are being applied in classrooms.
Targeted mentoring: One-to-one support for teachers, teaching assistants, or SENCOs struggling with specific approaches.
Remote coaching: Teams/Zoom calls for schools that cannot schedule frequent visits.

Monitoring & Feedback

Classroom observations: Follow-up visits to assess how strategies are working in practice.
Feedback reports: Practical, actionable feedback highlighting successes and areas for improvement.
Pupil progress review: Tracking engagement, learning outcomes, and wellbeing to measure impact.

Curriculum & Provision Support

Refining functional curriculum pathways: Adjusting individual or group plans based on feedback.
Resource development: Tailoring visual supports, communication tools, or sensory equipment for pupils.
Lesson planning guidance: Helping staff integrate alternative curriculum approaches seamlessly.

Parent & Carer Engagement

Information sessions: Sharing strategies with parents so learning can be reinforced at home.
Communication plans: Coordinating between school and home to support consistency.

Optional Extended Support

Longitudinal review: Periodic check-ins over a term or year to ensure strategies remain effective.
Cluster or network support: Linking schools to share good practice and resources.

Outcomes for Schools & Learners:

Enhanced Staff Expertise: Practical strategies and increased confidence in supporting pupils with complex SEND, including functional and life skills learning.
Improved Curriculum Planning: Evidence-based, personalised curriculum pathways tailored to individual learner profiles.
Greater Pupil Engagement: Increased participation, motivation, and inclusion for pupils with complex needs.
Stronger Leadership & Provision: SENCOs and leaders equipped with tools to monitor, evaluate, and plan SEND provision effectively.
Sustainable Inclusive Practice: Embedded strategies that build long-term capacity and reduce reliance on external support.
Parent & Community Engagement: Better understanding and involvement of families to support learning and wellbeing.