Bourn Spotlight on SEND
At Bourn Primary Academy, we pride ourselves on our inclusive ethos and commitment to all our pupils. We believe that all children, including those identified as having special educational needs and /or disabilities (SEND) have an entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum. We steadfastly believe that each one of us is capable of great things. We also understand that having a child with additional needs can sometimes prove challenging and, here at Bourn, we are committed to supporting our pupils and their families by highlighting events, support and opportunities they can access in our locality.
Advice and Support
The Local Offer: All local authorities working with their partners must publish information about how children and young people 0 - 25 who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported in their area. This is known as the local offer. The local offer includes information on:
- universal services that are available to everyone, such as schools, GPs, (universal services)
- targeted support and services for children and young people who may need some additional, short term support
- specialist services for children and young people who have complex needs and need longer term specialised support
Click here to access the website.
SENDIASS: The Parent Partnership Service providing Cambridgeshire's SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers who have a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability or have concerns that their child has special educational needs. They also offer impartial and confidential information, advice and support to young people and children with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability or who have concerns they may have special educational needs. Click here to access the website.
Pinpoint Cambridge: Pinpoint Cambridgeshire is run for parents – by parents. They give help and information to parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs and disabilities, and give parent carers opportunities to have a say and get involved in improving local services. No formal diagnosis is required to access support from Pinpoint – a child may be on a waiting list, accessing services, had a referral turned down, or just be struggling. Click here to access the website.
Contact: Contact is a charity for families with disabled children. Click here to access the website.
Spectrum: Spectrum is a parent-led children’s charity providing a range of inclusion-focused events, sessions, away days and support for families of children with Autism, additional needs, learning difficulties and disabilities. Registration with them is free and they support families across East Anglia and the surrounding counties, from the very start of their journey, a clinical diagnosis is not required to join them. As a registered member you can also access their Family Worker & Child Psychology support for SEND from the comfort of your own home!
Opportunities and Events
Living Sport: Living Sport is a local charity that works to improve the health, happiness and wellbeing of Cambridgeshire residents. It runs and supports many programmes for people with disabilities, and provides information to support people and organisations to run their own inclusive activities. You can sign up for a monthly newsletter and map of inclusive activities. Click here to access the website.
The Richard Darton Tennis Foundation: The Richard Darton Tennis Foundation arranges free places on tennis courses. The sessions are available for children aged 4 to 17 with disabilities or additional needs. Young carers are also welcome. Various clubs around the city are offering space on their courses. Some of them also offer after-school tennis groups during term time. Click here to access the website.
Adaptive Martial Arts:
- For ages 15 and older: Thursdays, 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the University of Cambridge Sport Centre
- For ages 7 to 14: Saturdays, 9.30am to 10.30am at the University of Cambridge Sport Centre
- Contact info@adaptivemartialarts.co.uk
Bounce Activity Club: Bounce is a free club for 5 to 11 year olds. Activities include multi-sports, arts and craft and board games, and all sessions are run by volunteers from Cambridge Student Community Action.
- Some Saturdays during term time, 1.30pm to 3pm at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 3JS
- Limited places – check before you attend
- Contact caroline@cambridgesca.org.uk
Clip ’n Climb: Clip 'n Climb Cambridge runs inclusive ‘Send’ climbing sessions for climbers with special educational needs. They provide a calm environment, turn the music down and have plenty of instructors to help. Numbers are restricted to 12 in a session. The centre has a climbing hoist, too. Contact Clip 'n Climb Cambridge.
Aspire Badminton: Aspire Badminton Club provide accessible badminton sessions for everyone. Weekly sessions are available for both adults and children.
- At Trumpington Sport Centre, CB2 9HB
- Contact Head Coach Philip on info@aspire2.club
Gymnastics: All sessions are run by Cambridge Gymnastic Academy.
- For adults: Mondays, 12.15pm to 1pm
- For ages 15 and younger: Tuesdays during school holidays, midday to 1pm
- Contact info@cambridgegymnastics@co.uk
Swimming: Visit the Let's Get Swimming page for details of inclusive swimming lessons.
Sensory Walks: Sensory walks allow you to use your senses to connect with your surroundings while you stay active. They are designed for people with complex disabilities, but everybody can enjoy them. You can go alone or in a group, you don’t need any specialist equipment and the walks can be any length you like. You can go on foot, use a wheelchair or walker – sensory walks are inclusive for all.
You can also find the walks on the Ordnance Survey OS Maps app.
