At St Luke’s Academy, we have established partnerships with different bodies of professionals and work very closely with external agencies to support our students and their families and provide the very best outcomes. These include:

SENAT

St Luke’s Academy has a senior education officer who is based within Swindon borough. They support the school with meetings, such as annual reviews, and provide advice to parents around different provisions within Swindon and other authorities.

SENDIASS

Swindon SENDIASS (special educational needs and disability information, advice, and support service) is a small team that, although funded by Swindon Borough Council, operates independently as a confidential service for parents and carers of children with special educational needs. Their aim is to develop closer links between parents and schools. Swindon SENDIASS provides parents, carers, and professionals with impartial advice, support, and information around special educational needs (SEN), exclusion, and parent involvement in decision making.

Tuition

There may arise a situation whereby some of our students require access to off-site tuition. If there is a need for off-site tuition, it is planned alongside the family and with one of the following tuition services: Swindon Tuition Centre, Launch to Learn, In Tuition. If St Luke’s Academy uses tuition as an alternative provider, it is usually to support knowledge gaps in English and maths.

I Prove Fit

Some of our students attend this off-site provision. I Prove Fit mentors our students on health and positive lifestyle choices through working within the gym and other individual sessions.

OT (Occupational Therapist)

Our SENCO will refer students to the occupational therapist if there are concerns around the student’s gross or fine motor skills. Any referrals will be completed in partnership with families.

EP (Educational Psychologist)

Our SENCO will refer students to the educational psychologist if there are concerns that the student is working well below age-related expectations.

SALT (Speech and Language Therapist)

Our SENCO will refer students to the speech and language therapist when the student is experiencing difficulties with receptive or expressive language. The speech therapist will give the school a specific speech programme to deliver.

Paediatrician

St Luke’s Academy has very close links with the paediatricians at the Great Western Hospital, and when our students attend appointments, we are sent a report to ensure that we are clear on any updates around medication, diet, or specific diagnosis. As a school, we have good communication with the ADHD nurse who will ensure we know of any updates regarding our students.

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

CAMHS is an NHS service that aims to help young people up to the age of 18 who are finding it hard to manage their emotional, psychological, and mental health. As St Luke’s Academy is a school for students with SEMH, we work very closely with CAMHS.

TAMHS (The Targeted Mental Health Service)

TAMHS aims to support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people by ensuring that their mental health needs are addressed and appropriately dealt with at the earliest possible opportunity.

Post-16 Provision

When students leave us at 16, we engage with different post-16 providers to ensure that our students are supported in taking the next step in their education. Some of these providers are Swindon College, New College, and Green Labyrinth.

Family Service

The Family Service works with families across the whole of Swindon, providing the right support at the right time, when it is required. The service aims are as follows:

  • Prevention of children entering the care system.
  • De-escalation of family difficulties, which may include issues around debt, substance misuse, and domestic abuse.
  • Helping to improve family relationships and routines.
  • Supporting access to work and training.
  • Ensuring families are more resilient.

School Nursing

All school nurses in Swindon are registered general nurses who have received additional training in many areas of practice, such as child development, safeguarding, and family work. Many of the team are also degree-level nurses, with all team leaders qualified as specialist community public health nurses. Core work for school nurses in Swindon is based on The Healthy Child Programme (NHS) and local and national health directives for children and young people.

Youth Engagement Service

The main focus of the Youth Engagement Service’s work is to support young people into education, employment, or training and to work with young people who are engaged in high-risk-taking behaviours. We refer students in year 10 and 11 to this service.

Respect

This is a programme for families that involves young people (10 to 17 year olds) who are aggressive toward people close to them, such as their brothers, sisters, parents, or carers. Respect provides support and simple solutions to help rebuild family relationships.

SMASH

This is a youth mentoring scheme that involves mentors meeting with the same young person once a week, typically for a year, to give support, encouragement, and guidance. Mentors encourage young people to believe in themselves, building up their self-confidence and helping them take the first steps toward achieving their goals.

UTURN

This is a specialist service that provides support, help, and guidance to young people (and their families) who have alcohol- and/or drug-related problems. The service encompasses all illicit substances, solvents, and prescribed medication, but excludes the use of tobacco.

On Trak

This is a counselling service for young people who, at the time of referral, are experiencing mental health problems and are likely to respond positively to talk-based therapies. The service is available to young people aged from 14 to 19, at the time of referral, experiencing moderate mental health problems that may be improved by attending one-to-one, talk-based therapy sessions.

STEP

STEP works with young people to help them build essential skills and the ability to manage their own lives. These skills include assertiveness, anger management, self confidence, self-esteem, communication, and teamwork. STEP provides a variety of projects that use activities young people want and agree to beforehand to look at, and deal with, significant issues in their lives.

YOT

This service is available to young people aged between 10 and 17. Normally, the YOT works with young people ordered to do so by the court, although sometimes the team will help young people and families where they need it most.