External Agencies
Services and Activities
Ash Trees Academy works together with other agencies, groups and schools to help your child develop their full potential. Some of you may already have contacts with some of these agencies and groups. This section of our website should help you to find out more about the services available to you.
Stockton United for Change
The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Information, Advice & Support Service has developed from the Parent Partnership Service. The aim of the service is to support parents, carers, children and young people (0-25) with Special Educational Needs and Disability. The Information, Advice & Support Service is free, impartial and confidential and is here to help you make informed decisions around educational choices for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability.
Speech and Language Therapy Service
Speech and Language therapists may work with your child if they have specific speech and language difficulties or if they have feeding problems. Ash Trees Academy works closely with NHS SALT services.
Physiotherapy
A Physiotherapist may work with your child if they have any physical problems or difficulties. They will also run wheelchair clinics in school.
Ash Trees Academy has NHS physiotherapists on site two days per week.
Occupational Therapy
An Occupational Therapist may work with your child if they need help with specialist aids or need help in adapting to the school environment and curriculum. They may help with specialist seating, eating and drinking, dressing or with educational aids e.g., pencils.
Teacher for hearing impaired children
The teacher for hearing impaired children will work with those children with a diagnosed hearing loss and provides reports and information for our teaching staff.
If you have any queries, please contact through your child’s class teacher.
Teacher for visually impaired children
The teacher for visually impaired children will work with those children with a diagnosed sight problem and provide support to our teaching staff. She visits school on a regular basis.
If you have any queries, please contact through your child’s class teacher.
Riding for the Disabled
This group provides riding lessons at the Unicorn Centre at Hemlington. Pupils from Ash Trees attend on a regular basis, and it provides opportunities for enjoyment, improved coordination and balance and a sense of achievement. All pupils taking part need to be assessed by the family GP. There is a cost of £5 per session for this activity as it is an addition to our normal curriculum. The group also provides private lessons, and a price list can be obtained from the school.
For enquiries, please contact The Unicorn Centre, Stainton Way, Hemlington 01642 576222 or if you would like to take part, please contact school on 0333 999 1451.
School Links
As a Trust, we provide a collaborative approach with some staff working across the schools in a supportive capacity and try to allow opportunities for groups of pupils to engage and interact across Ash Trees Academy and across the Trust.
Year 6 transition
The move from primary to secondary can be a difficult time for both parents/carers and children. We have developed transition arrangements with Abbey Hill School, where a lot of our pupil’s transition to, which allows for a smooth transfer from primary to secondary school. We also work with other schools in the area for individual transitions and ensure a supportive approach where parents and carers may choose to send their child to an alternative school. At the Y5 Annual Review, transition will be discussed with parents/carers and options can be explored. They are able to provide information to you about the school and the timescale gives parents/carers a chance to think about secondary education for their child. During Y5 and Y6 you will be invited to visit Abbey Hill School, and this will give you an opportunity to ask further questions of staff. During the Summer term, transition arrangements are made with your chosen school to ensure a supportive and gradual process. This gives pupils important preparation time for their transfer in the Autumn. They get used to the building, staff and organisation so that when they do start in Y7 then they are already familiar with the school.
If you would like more information about your child’s move to secondary education, please contact the school on 0333 999 1451.
Children, Education & Social Care (CESC)
Learning Disabilities Team
This is a team of specialist social workers who work with disabled children and their families. If you do need extra support in caring for your child or need some extra equipment. If you feel that you and your child would benefit from some extra help you can contact the First Contact Team. They will ask some questions about your child and family and pass on your request to the Learning Disabilities Team. If appropriate, a social worker from this team will meet with you and your child and assess your needs. They will be able to tell you about how they will collect any other information they would need to make this assessment. Any other professional working with you and your child can ask Children, Education and Social Care for help on your behalf.
You can contact the SEND team on – 01642 527145 or email [email protected]
LD CAMHS
Stockton LD CAMHS work together to promote a sense of wellbeing, by helping children and young people up to the age of 18 and their families to cope with any difficulties they may be experiencing.
The team has three main functions:
- Assessment and treatment of children and young people up to 18 years of age with mental/social and educational health disorders
- Advice, support and consultation for family members, carers and workers from health, social services, education and voluntary agencies
- Promotion of positive mental health in children and young people.
They can be contacted on 01642 526095
Main
Originally founded by former head teacher at Beverley School Nigel Carden in 2002, The MAIN Project was established as a registered charity to provide a short breaks for children with autism in Middlesbrough which gave parents a break from the demands of caring for a child which autism and the child an opportunity to develop their social and interpersonal skills and make friends
Direct Payments
In some circumstances, the services that are available to parents through CESC do not meet their requirements. Where this is the case, you may be offered a Direct Payment to help you arrange a service that meets your needs. This is money that is given to a parent/carer with responsibility for a disabled child to assist in buying the care for which the child has been assessed. It is a flexible alternative to other services such as day care or respite care. The Learning Disabilities Team would give you more information about Direct Payments as part of the assessment made for your child.
https://www.stocktoninformationdirectory.org/kb5/stockton/directory/service.page?id=HsDQT4DTWfk
Local Support Groups
Stockton Parent Support
There are various groups operating within Stockton that offer support for parents/carers and families.
https://www.stockton.gov.uk/article/5811/Children-and-family-support
Daisy Chain
Daisy Chain is a charity in Norton which supports children with autism and their families. They support parents/carers, children and siblings through the provision of respite care and the opportunity to talk with other parents and siblings in the same position as themselves.
Contact Daisy Chain on 01642 531248 or email: [email protected] or visit the website on www.daisychainproject.co.uk
Contact a Family
They provide information about support groups and organisations for specific conditions. If you have a query about anything related to your child’s disability, they will put you in touch with a local group or parent/carer with similar problems.
SNAPS
SNAPS (Special Needs Activities with Parents Support) offer family-based activities for children and young people with special needs. These take place throughout the year including school holidays.