Inclusion
At Woodlands, we have an Inclusion Team to identify, support and monitor the needs of all children across all phases of the school. This team work closely together to offer a comprehensive package of support that encompasses both SEND needs and social and emotional needs. Inclusion Team meetings are held regularly to review, assess and monitor the needs of all children and to consider who and how to support emerging needs.
⭐️⭐️A Proud Moment for Our Woodlands Family⭐️⭐️
I am incredibly proud to share some wonderful news with you.
Woodlands Primary School has been named as one of just five schools in the UK shortlisted for the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education (NAPCE) Pastoral School of the Year 2026.
With more than 300 schools from across the UK and overseas entering the awards, being recognised as a national finalist is an amazing achievement and one that belongs to every member of our Woodlands family.
As Headteacher, I feel absolutely thrilled that the care, compassion and dedication shown by our staff every single day has been recognised on a national stage. ( For the second time this year!!!) ⭐️
This achievement reflects the incredible commitment of our whole team, who work tirelessly to ensure every child feels safe, valued, understood and able to succeed.
At Woodlands, inclusion and pastoral care isn’t something that sits alongside education; it’s the foundation of everything we do. Every decision we make starts with our children and what they need to thrive. That’s why this recognition feels so special. It celebrates not only our staff, but also our wonderful pupils, supportive families and governors, who all play such an important part in making Woodlands the school it is.
Many of you see this every day. Whether it’s the warm welcome your child receives each morning, the support offered during difficult times, or the relationships built between home and school, we believe children achieve their very best when they know they are cared for and understood.
Our community is wonderfully diverse, and many of our children and families face challenges both in and out of school. Over the past decade we have worked hard to develop an attachment and trauma-informed approach that puts relationships, wellbeing and inclusion at the heart of school life. Rather than simply asking, “What’s wrong?” we ask, “What has happened, and how can we help?”
Our specialist inclusion team, Early Help provision, Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) and strong partnerships with external agencies allow us to provide personalised support for children and families whenever it is needed.
The impact of this approach has been significant. We’ve seen improved attendance, a dramatic reduction in exclusions, and, most importantly, children growing in confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Many of you will also know that our support extends beyond the classroom. Through our Early Help team we are proud to work alongside families, offering practical help, workshops and access to wider services whenever they are needed. Supporting the whole family is an important part of helping every child flourish.
This latest achievement builds on several national awards we have already received, including the Wellbeing Award, Attachment Research Community (ARC) Gold Accreditation and the prestigious ARC Alex Timpson Award. Together, they recognise our commitment to ensuring every child feels they belong and has every opportunity to succeed.
The winners will be announced in October, but whatever the outcome, we are incredibly proud to have been recognised as one of the country’s leading schools for pastoral care.
Finally, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. Thank you for the trust you place in us, for working in partnership with us, and for being such an important part of our school community. This recognition belongs to all of us, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved together. ❤️
Jo Duncombe
Headteacher
guide to inclusion provision.pdf
Our inclusion team offer different levels of support:
Universal Support– To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and wider curriculum and the Secrets of Success.
Additional support– For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement.
Targeted support– For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as wellbeing groups or personal mentor
Examples of additional and targeted support are;
- ELSA support (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)
- 1:1 mentoring
- Peer mentoring
- Group mentoring
- Lego to Express
- Woodlands School Based Councillor
- Emotional Health and Well-Being panel
Mental Health First Aider
Our Mental Health First Aiders have been trained to
- spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
- have the confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
- support a young person with a mental health issue or disability to thrive.
Our current mental Health First Aiders are: Mrs Duncombe (Senior Mental Health Lead) Mrs Fisher, and Mrs Murray.
