SEND

At Bowlish Infant School, we are proud to be an inclusive school where every child is valued and supported to achieve their full potential. We believe that all children, regardless of their needs or abilities, have the right to access a broad and balanced curriculum that inspires, engages and challenges them. Our dedicated team works closely with parents, carers, and external agencies to identify and remove barriers to learning, ensuring that each child receives the support they need to thrive. By fostering an environment that embeds our Values, we promote inclusivity in all that we do, helping every child to feel confident, capable, and a fully valued member of our school community.

If you have any queries regarding Inclusion, please see below or get in touch. Our School SENDCo is Mrs. Spencer, who can be contacted via that School Office.

SEND Policies & Information

Useful National Links:

SEND Code of Practice

Useful Local Authority links:

Find SEND Services in Somerset

Support for Parents

The SEND Graduated Response is a UK-based, four-stage cycle (Assess, Plan, Do, Review) used by schools to identify and support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), ensuring tailored interventions, involving parents, and escalating support if needed, moving from general classroom support (Quality First Teaching) to targeted interventions and potentially an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for complex needs. Somerset's graduated response can be found here: Graduated Response

The Somerset Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) is an independent, parent-led organization representing families with children (birth to 25) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Somerset, aiming to give them a stronger voice to influence and improve local health, education, and social care services through workshops, support groups, and direct work with providers like Somerset Council. They provide a non-judgmental space for families to connect and access resources, ensuring services truly meet local needs. Their website can be found here: Somerset Parent Carer Forum

Somerset WISE (Workshops for Information, Support, and Education) workshops are free sessions for parent carers in Somerset, providing practical strategies and shared experiences for navigating challenges when raising children and young people with additional needs or disabilities. Run by the Somerset Parent Carer Forum (SPC Forum), they cover topics like sleep, transitions, anxiety, autism, and neurodiversity, offering both online adnd in-person formats, often co-delivered by parents with lived experience. WISE workshops for parents

The Somerset SEND Navigator is a support role helping families of children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) in Somerset to find information, access services, prepare for meetings, understand available help (like forms for DLA/PIP), build confidence, and connect with support networks, essentially guiding them through the SEND system to improve outcomes. These navigators work with parent carers, often through the Somerset Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) and hold drop-in sessions in schools and communities. SEND Navigator

Education, Health, Care, Plan SENDIAS (or SENDIASS) is the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Service, a free, impartial, confidential UK service helping children, young people (up to 25), parents, and carers understand and navigate education, health, and social care issues related to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). It provides support on rights, EHC plans, meetings, and fostering good relationships with schools and authorities to secure the best outcomes. SENDIAS

Links to help