Special Educational Needs
Inclusion and Special Educational Needs & Disabilities at North West London Jewish Day School
Welcome to our Inclusion and SEND (special educational needs & disabilities) page.
Please also see our Mental Health and Wellbeing page which links to Inclusion/SEND
To understand our aims and vision, please continue to read below, and scroll down to the Rainbow Stars to open links and pages for further information.
Inclusion and SEND at NWLJDS
What is a Special Educational Need/Disability (SEND)?
NWLJDS is committed to the inclusion of all children including those with SEND. A child has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for additional educational support and provision to be made for them. Typically, children with SEND have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others the same age.
SEND can be categorised into 4 areas:
- cognition and learning
- communication and interaction
- social and emotional mental health,
- sensory and/or physical needs.
We carefully monitor children’s progress and discuss any concerns together with class teachers and parents to identify needs and to discuss support that can be organised. At NWLJDS, we welcome all children and foster an ethos which celebrates children’s differences and the talents of all. We believe each child is an individual, is unique and has something special to offer our school community.
We celebrate the achievements of all pupils and we celebrate neurodiversity (the idea that it is normal and acceptable for people to have brains that function differently from one another). At NWLJDS we challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. We recognise that there are “Minds of All Kinds” and we want children and the wider community to understand, value and celebrate the talents of neuro-diverse minds.
At NWLJDS, we are all responsible for SEND/Inclusion. The school is led by our Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs): Mrs Madeleine Bendell and Mrs Danielle Stone who work with all staff, parents, pupils and outside agencies to ensure children with SEND have the appropriate provision, to make progress in their learning, and strive to have a fulfilling and enjoyable school experience.
They can be contacted at: ecm@nwljds.org.uk
Click on the icons below for more information about Inclusion and SEND at NWLJDS:
Inclusion and SEND – Meet the Team
Important Information and Policies
Useful Resources
NWLJDS is proud to be an ADHD Friendly School (in collaboration with The ADHD Foundation – The Neurodiversity Charity)
NWLJDS is proud to have received the SEND Inclusion Award
NWLJDS – Inclusion and SEND – meet the team
The SENCOs (ecm@nwljds.org.uk)
Madeleine Bendell and Danielle Stone
As SENCOs, we take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school’s SEND policy. We lead and co-ordinate additional support for pupils with SEND and liaise with their parents, teachers and other professionals who are involved with them.
We support early identification and intervention for children with SEND and meet with parents to discuss any concerns about their child’s development. We track and monitor the progress of children with SEND and work together with the class teachers to ensure there is high quality teaching and intervention.
We have both achieved the National award in Special Educational Needs Coordination (NASENCO). Madeleine Bendell is also accredited OCR Level 7 dyslexia teacher/assessor; and Danielle has completed specialist training in Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Learning Support Assistants: (1:1 support for children with EHC plans)
Marta Capo
Michael Adams
Rani Di-Mampova
Melchi Doue
Aysha Miah
Speech and Language Therapy
Brent SLT Services: If you have a Brent GP, it is possible to make a referral for SLT via the NHS. However, for many pupils, they do not have a Brent GP. Therefore we have commissioned a certain level of services from Brent SLT and our therapist is Fiona McCormick. For those who wish to explore provision via a private route, it is possible to facilitate sessions during the school day on Tuesday and Thursdays (depending on availability) with our SLT link therapist, Shelley Radomsky.
Shelley Radomsky
Shelley is a pediatric speech and language therapist. She assesses and works directly with children with speech and language difficulties. This includes receptive and expressive language difficulties as well as speech sound difficulties. Shelley also works on developing children’s social communication and as well as working on a one to one basis, I also carry out small groups. Shelley supports children with EHCPs but also works privately. Shelley works in collaboration with teachers and other professionals involved with children to ensure a more holistic approach to therapy. For more information, please contact: ecm@nwljds.org.uk
Occupational Therapy
We can help by making a referral to NHS Occupational Services if your child has difficulties with self-care tasks (dressing, eating a meal, using the toilet), being productive (participating in activities and routines at nursery or school), and leisure (playing with friends, doing sports or hobbies). Referrals are made to the local authority where you are registered with a GP, and your child needs to have difficulties with two functioning skills. Alternatively, it is possible to make an arrangement (depending on availability) with a private therapist, Gabrielle Pine, who is based at NWLJDS on Mondays.
Gabrielle Pine
Gabrielle is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist who assesses and works directly with children who may experience any of the following difficulties: attention, fine motor skills (hands), gross motor skills (body), sensory processing, pencil control, writing, visual perception, ocular control, executive functioning, independence and organisation, and self-care skills. Gabrielle works collaboratively with teachers and other professionals to ensure that communication is effective and therapy goals are continued outside of sessions where possible. Please contact Danielle or Maddy at ecm@nwljds.org.uk for further information.
SEN Link Governor – Sally Strauss
Professional Experience
I trained as a Primary School teacher but specialised in SEND. Over 40 years I worked in a variety of schools and settings including primary, secondary and special as well as home tuition teaching children with a range of SEND from the age of 4-16
Hobbies and Interests
I am the leader of 6th Edgware Brownies based at Edgware United Synagogue
I was one of the founders of the Jewish Teacher’s Network, a Facebook group mainly for Jewish teachers in non-Jewish Schools
I am a member of Brent SACRE
I enjoy reading, going to the theatre and ballet
I also enjoy looking after my grandchildren
Fun fact
I have a poor sense of direction so don’t be surprised if I struggle to find my way around the school.
