We support inclusive education and a significant proportion of pupils will have a variety of special educational needs during their time in school. These pupils may be identified by reports from first school teachers, test scores, teacher observation and assessment, etc. (Parental observations /concerns/information are very helpful in this respect).

Our setting and banding arrangements (see Section 7 on school organisation) mean that we can cater for pupils working at different paces and to varying depths, particularly in the upper part of the school where, as children grow older, the spread of ability tends to be wider. Special help may be offered in a small group withdrawal situation, either with one of our own members of staff or a visiting member of the special needs support service. Alternatively, the extra help may be available from an additional member of staff working alongside the subject teacher in a support role within the classroom.

If a pupil has particular learning or behavioural difficulties, further informal advice may be sought from the school psychological service to assist with the provision of appropriate teaching strategies in the classroom. If however it is felt that a pupil may have needs beyond those which a school of this type might be ordinarily expected to cope with, we may refer the child, after discussion with parents, to the educational psychologist on one of his/her regular visits.

Pupils with disabilities - We support the policies of the Department for Education and the local authority on inclusion of pupils with disabilities within mainstream schools.  We adhere to the guidelines laid down in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Borough of Poole Disability Equality Policy and Strategy.

Pupils with disabilities who attend Broadstone Middle School benefit from the help of learning support assistants or specialist teachers and we do our best to ensure equal opportunities for all our pupils and full access to the National Curriculum.