The High Needs funding from the last 4 years has allowed us to invest in provisions and enhance inclusive opportunities for children and young people across a range of settings.

The focus was on projects that incorporated Torbay’s local area Graduated Response Framework to enable the continued improvement of existing provision for pupils and students with high needs.

A total of 8 providers were successful and allocated funding to progress their projects as detailed below:

Oldway Primary School

Lift access to Year 4 & 6 Classrooms

School Feedback – Jill Christian, Operations Manager

Sending you some pictures of our fantastic 3 floor lift at Oldway Primary. Thank you for all your help towards part funding this. It makes a huge difference for our children in wheelchairs.

Paignton Academy

Sensory Gardens at Borough Road and Waterleat Road sites, with accessible ramp at Waterleat Road.

School Feedback – Simon Dossett, LEAD SENDCo and Head of SEND

The ramp is complete and the plants that have gone in are starting to take hold! Nurture groups are ready with sunflower seeds and other smelling and vibrant plants for spring planting. It has been a great addition, and children have been accessing the area and recognising the potential.

The contractor is returning shortly to plant trees in the lower half of the garden, benches, and a living wall on the new trellis so it will change again shortly.

Over at BRC the garden is tied up with the wider build going on. Scaffolding is down, windows are going in, and the garden area is now being levelled ready for completion during Easter which is fab.

Shiphay Learning Academy

Creation of sensory space in Year 4 and outdoor courtyard/sensory garden in Year 3

School Feedback – Kathryn Waterson, SENDCo

A huge thank you to the High Needs Funding Bid Capital Team from Shiphay Learning Academy! Last Summer Term, we requested support with creating an extension onto a classroom to provide a calm sensory space from the class. Our contracted builders worked hard over the summer holidays to complete the work. An untidy and unused cupboard was transformed into a calmer sensory space for 4 EHCP children. Shiphay also requested funding to create a wonderful small garden space for our high need’s children. Unfortunately, the courtyard has yet to be improved due to more building work needed to ensure it is a safe zone for children. We did not anticipate the scale of clearing the courtyard. However, we still used the funding to buy the outdoor resources we requested – we received a green house, planters and a water/sand tray. These have been utilized around the school to support our pupils with EHCPs while we begin the huge task of clearing the courtyard – watch this space! We used the planter to celebrate World Down Syndrome Month and grew sunflowers across the school. Our sunflowers were presented at the front of the building, and you can spot our little star on the World Down Syndrome Day Posters! The greenhouse has been beneficial to 3 pupils with EHCPs in reception. These pupils are currently working within the engagement model and have been growing a wide range of vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers and peas! All have been used in their sensory activities and the children have enjoyed including them within their cooking sessions! The sand and water trays have been used for children who are currently accessing the Attention Autism program (a provision stated on their EHCPs) so they can get as messy as needed! We have invested in a wide range of Widgit resources for communication and a range of toys to enhance our smaller sensory spaces further. We are extremely grateful for the High Needs Funding Bid!

South Devon College

Sensory room refurbishment

College Feedback – Sarah Al-Humaidi, Projects Coordinator

The sensory room is currently used by at least 20 students. Frequent users include a student with Downs Syndrome who loves the interactive wall panel. The sensory room also provides a student with narcolepsy with a pleasant environment to sleep.  We have a couple of wheelchair users who use the space. Many students use it to calm and regulate or if they are feeling unwell. The upper and lower LED and UV lights evoke a sense of calm to the body aiding those with autism or sensory processing disorders. The many interactive features enable students to personalize their experience in the room such as playing their own music or choosing lights and projector settings.

The refurbishment of the sensory room has enriched the Colleges provision for SEND learners. Ofsted inspectors commended the facility during a recent evaluation of South Devon College. We have a large cohort starting in September and have a couple of students that have regular seizures who will be supported by use the sensory room.

St Marychurch Primary School

Extension/refurbishment of current nurture provision

Barton Academy

Development of the Outdoor Learning Environment

School Feedback – Stephen Eccles SENDCo

The work has had a massive impact on the high needs children that access the learning environment and we’re already seeing the children engaging together in more positive social interactions in the outdoor space!

Sacred Heart

Outdoor nurture provision

School Feedback – Nichola Day, Headteacher

The area has been a great success and is having a firm impact on the breaktimes of many of our SEND pupils and as an outdoor learning space throughout the day. 

Sherwell Valley Primary School

Creation of 2 sensory spaces