SEND & SEMH Support at Hatfield Wick School

Hatfield Wick School provides specialist SEND and SEMH support for children who need a personalised, emotionally supportive and inclusive approach to education.

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. SEMH stands for Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

Many students with SEND and SEMH needs require more than a standard classroom approach. They may need smaller groups, predictable routines, therapeutic support, personalised learning and adults who understand the barriers they face.

At Hatfield Wick School, our SEND education and SEMH education are shaped by CARES360: Compassion, Autonomy, Respect, Empathy and Support.

This means we combine education, emotional wellbeing, therapeutic understanding and specialist support so that students can feel safe, build confidence and make progress from their individual starting points.

What does SEND mean in education?

SEND means Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

A child may have SEND if they need additional or different support to access education.

SEND can include a wide range of needs, such as communication and interaction difficulties, autism, ADHD, cognition and learning needs, sensory processing differences, physical needs, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties or social communication challenges.

SEND education should be tailored to the child. This means understanding their strengths, barriers, learning profile and emotional needs.

For some students, this may involve adapted teaching. For others, it may include specialist interventions, therapeutic input, sensory support, communication strategies or personalised learning plans.

SEND schools and specialist settings provide additional structure, expertise and support for students whose needs may not be fully met in mainstream education.

At Hatfield Wick School, SEND support is personalised, practical and child-centred. Through CARES360, we focus on helping each student access learning, develop independence and experience success.

What is SEMH in education?

SEMH stands for Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

In education, SEMH refers to needs that affect how a child manages emotions, relationships, behaviour, self-esteem, anxiety, communication, attendance or engagement with learning.

Children with SEMH needs may experience anxiety, low confidence, emotional dysregulation, school avoidance, trauma-related responses, difficulties with friendships, low mood, frustration, withdrawal or behaviour that communicates distress.

SEMH education focuses on understanding the reasons behind these difficulties and providing the right support.

This may include emotional regulation strategies, consistent routines, trusted relationships, therapeutic approaches, behaviour support, structured learning and opportunities to rebuild confidence.

At Hatfield Wick School, we understand that behaviour is often communication.

Our CARES360 approach helps staff respond with curiosity and care. We ask what a student’s behaviour may be telling us, what need may sit beneath it, and what support may help the student feel safer, calmer and more able to engage.

SEMH Support for Children

SEMH support for children at Hatfield Wick School is built around safety, relationships and personalised learning.

Students are taught in small groups and supported by staff who understand SEND, SEMH and neurodivergent learning profiles.

Each student’s needs are considered carefully so that support can be adapted throughout the day.

SEMH support may include individual support plans, emotional check-ins, regulation strategies, therapeutic approaches, behaviour support, structured routines, sensory adjustments, movement breaks, restorative conversations and close communication with families.

The learning environment is designed to be calm, predictable and supportive. Staff work to reduce unnecessary anxiety and help students develop the skills they need to manage emotions, build relationships and access learning.

CARES360 gives staff a shared language and framework for this support. It helps ensure that students are met with Compassion, given appropriate Autonomy, treated with Respect, understood through Empathy and provided with the Support they need.

We aim to help students feel secure enough to try, confident enough to participate and supported enough to make progress.

SEND Support

SEND support at Hatfield Wick School is personalised to each student.

This may include adapted teaching, small-group learning, sensory-aware routines, communication support, therapeutic input, literacy and numeracy intervention, social development work, emotional regulation strategies and family collaboration.

We look at each student’s strengths, needs, barriers and aspirations. This helps us plan support that is practical, meaningful and reviewed over time.

SEND support is not treated as an add-on. It is built into the school day, curriculum, environment and relationships.

SEND Schools and Specialist Provision

SEND schools provide specialist education for children and young people who need additional or different support to access learning successfully.

Some students join Hatfield Wick School because mainstream education has become difficult, overwhelming or unsuitable for their needs. This may be due to SEND, SEMH needs, anxiety, emotionally based school avoidance, disrupted education, previous placement breakdown or difficulties accessing learning in a larger mainstream environment.

At Hatfield Wick School, support is designed around the whole child. We consider learning, emotional wellbeing, communication, sensory needs, social development, attendance, confidence, regulation and preparation for the future.

Our specialist provision combines personalised education, therapeutic understanding, CARES360, small-group support and clear routines. Learning pathways are adapted to each student’s needs and may include core academic learning, personalised interventions, practical learning, vocational opportunities, wellbeing support and structured preparation for next steps.

Our CARES360 model ensures that support is not simply about where a student is educated. It is about how they are understood, how barriers are reduced, how relationships are built and how progress is carefully planned.

We work closely with families, local authorities and professionals to ensure support is joined-up, purposeful and responsive.

The aim is not simply to provide a place for students to attend. It is to help them move forward emotionally, socially and academically within a safe, specialist and nurturing school environment.

Why Families Choose Hatfield Wick School

Families choose Hatfield Wick School because we understand that every child’s journey is different.

Our approach is inclusive, personalised and emotionally informed.

We provide a specialist school environment where students are known well, supported consistently and encouraged to develop confidence over time.

Parents and carers value clear communication, experienced staff, small-group support, therapeutic thinking and a focus on both wellbeing and achievement.

CARES360 sits at the heart of this work. It helps us create a school culture where students feel safe, respected, understood and supported.

We recognise the importance of academic progress, but we also understand that confidence, attendance, emotional regulation, trust, independence and self-belief are essential parts of a successful education.

At Hatfield Wick School, our aim is to help students feel safe, understood and capable, so they can take positive steps towards their future. Contact us for more information.

FAQs

What does SEND mean in education?

SEND means Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. In education, this means a child may need additional or different support to access learning successfully.

What is SEMH in education?

SEMH means Social, Emotional and Mental Health. In education, SEMH needs may affect emotional regulation, behaviour, relationships, confidence, attendance or engagement with learning.

What SEMH support for children does Hatfield Wick School provide?

Hatfield Wick School provides SEMH support for children through small groups, trusted relationships, therapeutic routines, emotional regulation strategies, personalised learning and family communication.

What SEND support is available?

SEND support may include adapted teaching, personalised targets, sensory-aware routines, communication support, intervention, therapeutic input and close monitoring of progress.