Please see Our School, Statutory Information for our SEND Information Report
SEND AT CRANBORNE
At Cranborne, we pride ourselves at being an inclusive school which offers a wide range of provision to meet the needs of all our learners. Please see our SEND information report for statutory information about this.
A big thank you to all parents who have attended the Inclusion parent coffee mornings . Please keep an eye below for the dates for the next terms and an email will be sent out confirming them.
Mrs Keilty our Headteacher, our SENDCo Mrs Holt, and the rest of the Inclusion team are always available to discuss matters around SEND and, together with parents/carers, will ensure that the right provision is in place for each child.
Please feel free to have a chat with the school SENDCo, Lucy Holt, if you require any additional information.
Tel: 01707 652 714
Email: holtl@cranborne.herts.sch.uk
Anna Prazer, our SENDCo Assistant, is supporting Mrs Holt 2 days a week.
If you would like to speak with her you can contact her on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time at: aprazer@cranborne.herts.sch.uk
- Locality Approach: The 9 areas ensure support is delivered close to home, helping with school inclusion and improving outcomes for wellbeing.
- Support for Families: DSPLs provide parents and carers with resources, guidance, and access to services, including [Family Support Workers].
- School Partnerships: They work with local schools to offer training, specialist advice, and initiatives to support students with SEND.
- Local Decision Making: Each area has its own management and budget to address local gaps in provision.
Cranborne falls under DSPL6 and our manager is Cheryl Mence.
Please check out the DSPL 6 website for up to date information to support famailies and young people in our area:
Some supportive child friendly books for SEND:
📚 Autism
1. All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism – Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
A zebra named Zane worries his autism “stripe” makes him different, but learns it’s part of what makes him special.
👉 Helps children understand diagnosis, self-acceptance, and strengths.
2. A Friend for Henry – Jenn Bailey
Henry, an autistic boy, wants to make a friend at school but struggles with social communication.
👉 Supports understanding of social interaction and making friends.
3. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr Temple Grandin – Julia Finley Mosca
A true story about Temple Grandin, showing how thinking differently can be a strength.
👉 Promotes pride in difference and neurodiversity.
4. My Brother Otto – Meg Raby
A sibling story about understanding and appreciating a brother with autism.
👉 Great for explaining autism to peers and siblings.
5. I See Things Differently: A First Look at Autism – Pat Thomas
Simple, clear explanations of autism for younger readers.
👉 Supports understanding of behaviours and differences.
⚡ ADHD
1. My Whirling, Twirling Motor – Merriam Sarcia Saunders
Describes ADHD as a motor that runs fast and sometimes needs help slowing down.
👉 Helps children understand hyperactivity and self-regulation.
2. The Survival Guide for Kids with ADHD – John F. Taylor
A practical, child-friendly guide with coping strategies.
👉 Supports executive function, routines, and emotional control.
3. What Were You Thinking?: Learning to Control Your Impulses – Bryan Smith
Uses relatable scenarios to help children think before acting.
👉 Targets impulsivity and decision-making.
4. Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book About Living with ADHD – Jeanne Kraus
A realistic story about school and social challenges.
👉 Helps children feel understood and less alone.
5. Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids – Kelli Miller
Interactive activities that build confidence and coping strategies.
👉 Encourages self-awareness and problem-solving.
🌈 Other SEND (including anxiety, speech & language needs, sensory needs, dyslexia, and general neurodiversity)
Communication & Social Understanding
1. Can I Play Too? – Mo Willems
Gerald struggles to include a snake in a game.
👉 Helps with inclusion, communication, and flexibility.
2. The Invisible String – Patrice Karst
Explains emotional connection and reassurance.
👉 Supports children with attachment or anxiety needs.
Emotional Regulation & Anxiety
3. Ruby’s Worry – Tom Percival
A girl learns how worries grow if not shared.
👉 Encourages talking about feelings.
4. The Huge Bag of Worries – Virginia Ironside
A child’s worries become a literal bag she carries.
👉 Helps externalise and understand anxiety.
Sensory Needs
5. Too Loud Lily – Sofie Laguna
Lily struggles with being too loud and managing sensory input.
👉 Supports self-awareness and behaviour regulation.
Dyslexia & Learning Differences
6. Thank You, Mr Falker – Patricia Polacco
A powerful story about a child overcoming reading difficulties.
👉 Promotes perseverance and understanding of dyslexia.
7. Fish in a Tree – Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A girl with undiagnosed dyslexia discovers her strengths.
👉 Builds confidence and reframes learning differences.
General Neurodiversity & Inclusion
8. We’re All Wonders – R.J. Palacio
A picture-book adaptation of Wonder highlighting kindness and inclusion.
👉 Encourages acceptance and empathy.
9. The Brain Forest – Sandhya Menon
Explains how different brains work in a child-friendly way.
👉 Supports understanding of diverse needs.
Another fabulous book series that is by a fairly local author is "The Abilities in Me" by Gemma Keir. She has books dedicated to:
1. The Abilities in Me: Speech Delay
2. The Abilities in Me: Down Syndrome
3. The Abilities in Me: Spina Bifida
4. The Abilities in Me: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
5. The Abilities in Me: ADHD
6. The Abilities in Me: Superstar Siblings
7. The Abilities in Me: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
8. The Abilities in Me: Limb Difference
9. The Abilities in Me: Sensory Processing Disorder
10. The Abilities in Me: Hirschsprung’s Disease
11. The Abilities in Me: Hospital
12. The Abilities in Me: ARFID
13. The Abilities in Me: Autism
14. The Abilities in Me: Cerebral Palsy
15. The Abilities in Me: Cystic Fibrosis
16. The Abilities in Me: T1 Diabetes (Insulin Pen)
17. The Abilities in Me: Epilepsy
18. The Abilities in Me: Hydrocephalus
19. The Abilities in Me: Inclusion
20. The Abilities in Me: 22q Deletion
21. The Abilities in Me: Save Christmas
22. The Abilities in Me: Sibling Loss
23. The Abilities in Me: Tracheostomy
24. The Abilities in Me: Tube Feeding
25. The Abilities in Me: Congenital Heart Defect
26. The Abilities in Me: Dyslexia
The Feelings In Me: Title List
- Anxiety
- Emotions
- Grief
- Self love
COMING SOON: The Abilities In Me: Asthma
Useful links:
The Hertfordshire Neurodiversity Support Hub which is open Monday - Friday 9am-1pm. The Hub is staffed by experts by experience, they can answer any questions to do with Neurodiversity, however big or small, or just provide a listening ear. Please note, no diagnosis is required to access the support and the helpline is open to parents, carers and professionals. The Hub can be contacted by phone on 01727 833963, with an answerphone facility for out of hours or by email at supporthub@add-vance.org
SPACE Herts Training - Click here for the most up to date training for parents and carers
SLCA: Supporting your child with Social Interactions Coffee morning
Louisa Smyth, from the Speech, Language, Communication and Autism (SLCA) team has kindly sent us her PowerPoint from her session on supporting your child with their social interactions. See below.
Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Coffee mornings
Alyssa MacLean, our SEND Implementation Support Officer (SISO), has been in school running Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Coffee mornings for our parents who want to find out more about EHCP's and who needs them. Please find below a copy of the slides from the meeting. We will be running more of these sessions in the future. If you would like to be added to the wiating list for these sessions please email Mrs Lucy Holt our SENCO: holtl@cranborne.herts.sch.uk
EHCP Coffee morning presentation
Please see our Understanding EHCP document which is designed to support parents in understanding what an EHCP is and if it is appropriate for their child.
Please also look at the Hertfordshire website which gives you more information about the process.
Hertfordshire website - Education, health and care plans (EHCP)
SEND Friendly Events
Sometimes finding SEND friendly days out can be challenging when typically our SEND children find crowded spaces, loud noise, unfamiliar settings and people overwhelming. Below is a list of places and events that are designed to support children and young people with a variety of SEND. Please let us know how you find them-feedback and sharing personal experiences may help another family.
1. The London Transport Museum - Opens outside of normal opening hours for SEND children to explore in a quiet environment. This is free for children who attend with a full paying adult.
Enjoy the Museum at a quieter time, free from the general public, and with many of the gallery sounds turned off. Explore the All Aboard family spaces in peace, have a go at the holiday activities or get hands-on with genuine parts of transport history.
They now offer a sensory space at these events. Feel free to use any of the sensory objects including the bespoke stimming board, carefully crafted by their Learning Team to provide a calming sensory experience for all visitors.
2. Kew Gardens -Explore all the things plants need to grow; earth, air, sun and water, and enjoy the sensory elements of the Children's Garden during one of their quiet sessions. The session is free but tickets must be booked in advance.
3. Accessible Cinemas- May cinemas will screen the latest films in a more SEND friendly way- with lights on, volume down, freedom to move around the theatre. Search here to find the screens near you.
4. Jump in - Quieter Jump sessions with fewer people and less music to support your SEND child's sensory need.
5. Aldenham Country Park SEND Pavillion - A SEND (special needs and disabled) play session at the Pavilion and Adventure Playground includes use of the inside play centre with sensory rooms, arts and crafts and lots of different toys. Plus the outdoor adventure play area (exclusive until 11am) with sand pits, a hobbit tunnel, climbing frames, a zip wire and more all for £6 per child.
6. Barracuda's SEND swimming club - Are a swimming club for people with disabilities. They welcome people of all ages and swimming abilities, no matter the severity of physical or learning disability. they meet every Sunday at 11.30-12.30 at the Furzefield centre, Potters bar, where they have exclusive use of the pool
7. Willows Farm - Run SEND/Quiet sessions from 9am -10am twice a month. Tickets are for the full day with an extra quiet hour in soft play, funfair rides and JCB tractors at no additional cost.
8. Furzefield Swimming pool - Hertsmere Mencap run a soft play session suitable for SEND children up to the age of 11 once a month on a Saturday morning.
For further information please contact Hertsmere Mencap development@hertsmeremencap.org.uk
WORKSHOPS/SUPPORT GROUPS/COFFEE MORNING INFORMATION
*****We send out weekly bulletins to update parents and Carers of any new webinars, workshops or support groups in our local area. Keep an eye out for any courses that may interest you. *****
Potters Bar SEND support group : Thursdays 9.15-10.45, Elm Court, 363 Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 3BP
Each session consists of an informal chat with other parents/ carers and the chance to listen to an experienced speaker on topics that may affect your child and family.
Refreshments will be provided and meetings run from 9.15 to 10.45 am
The surgeries consist of 30-minute sessions with our SEND School Family Workers to answer questions and to offer support and signposting for parents/carers of children with additional needs.
Please email abrahamsone@mountgrace.herts.sch.uk for more information about any of these events or to be added to their mailing list. You will then receive further information about each event
