Inclusion at St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School
At St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child deserves the right support to thrive in their education. At some point in their school journey, children may need additional help—whether for physical, learning, or behavioural needs. Our dedicated Inclusion team works closely with staff and families to ensure every child receives the guidance and support they need.
The Head of School, Antonis Antoniou, leads inclusion within the school, ensuring that all pupils have access to the right resources and interventions. The Assistant Head, Paulla Dean, also plays a key role in supporting the inclusion process and working with families and external professionals when necessary.
How We Support Children with Additional Needs
We offer a wide range of support strategies tailored to each child’s specific needs. At times, we may seek guidance from external agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for your child. Throughout this process, we prioritise working in partnership with parents, keeping you informed and involved at every stage of your child's support journey.
If you have any concerns about your child's development or learning, we encourage you to speak with their class teacher in the first instance. If further support is needed, the teacher will refer you to the Inclusion Team, who will work with you to explore the best ways forward.
Key People You Can Speak To:
- Antonis Antoniou – Head of School, overseeing Inclusion
- Paulla Dean – Assistant Head,
Further details about our approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including our policies and support structures, can be found in our SEND Policy and Supporting Children with SEND Report, available on our policy documents page.
Additionally, families can access information about local services and support through the Tower Hamlets Council local offer, which provides details about resources available to children, young people, and their families.
For more information, please https://www.localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk/.
We are committed to ensuring that every child at St Edmund’s feels supported, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Waves of Inclusion at St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School
At St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to inclusive education, ensuring that all children receive the support they need to reach their full potential. Our approach follows a graduated model of support known as the ‘Waves of Inclusion’, which provides different levels of intervention based on individual needs.
Wave 1 – Quality First Teaching
This is the foundation of our approach, ensuring that all pupils receive high-quality, differentiated teaching within the classroom. Our teachers use a range of strategies, such as:
- Clear learning objectives that are shared and revisited.
- Visual, kinaesthetic, and interactive teaching methods to engage all learning styles.
- Scaffolding, modelling, and targeted questioning to support understanding.
- Classroom adaptations to accommodate individual needs.
Wave 1 strategies are designed to ensure that the majority of pupils can access learning effectively without requiring additional intervention.
Wave 2 – Targeted Group Support
For children who require additional help beyond high-quality classroom teaching, we provide targeted interventions in small groups. These are designed to accelerate progress and help children reach age-related expectations. Examples include:
- Reading and phonics interventions
- Maths booster groups
- Social skills and emotional well-being programmes
- Speech and language support groups
Wave 2 interventions are time-limited and reviewed regularly to ensure effectiveness.
Wave 3 – Personalised and Specialist Support
For a small number of children with significant needs, highly individualised support is provided. This may involve:
- One-to-one interventions tailored to specific learning, communication, or behavioural needs.
- Support from external specialists, such as Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, or Occupational Therapists.
- Specialist learning programmes to ensure pupils can access the curriculum effectively.
Wave 3 support is designed to provide longer-term, personalised interventions for children who need a higher level of assistance.
Supporting Different Areas of Need
Our Waves of Inclusion framework addresses four key areas:
- Cognition and Learning – Support for children with difficulties in reading, writing, maths, or processing information.
- Communication and Interaction – Helping children with speech and language needs or social communication difficulties.
- Social, Emotional, and Mental Health – Supporting children experiencing emotional regulation difficulties or behavioural challenges.
- Sensory and Physical Needs – Adjustments for children with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, or fine/gross motor difficulties.
Working Together
We believe in collaboration with parents, ensuring they are involved at every stage of their child’s journey. If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, please speak to their class teacher, who may refer you to the Assistant Head for Inclusion.
For more details, please refer to our SEND Policy and the Supporting Children with SEND Report available on our website.
Additionally, the Tower Hamlets Council Local Offer provides information about services available to children, young people, and families. For more information, please click here. https://www.localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk/
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.