Hampton Dene’s Language and Communication Centre (LCC)

The LLC is a provision for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and a diagnosis of Speech and Language difficulties and/or Autism. At Hampton Dene, we take great pride in supporting children to become independent, resilient learners who learn through fun, engaging learning and activities.

The LLC currently has four classrooms, Bees, Kestrels, Ospreys and Buzzards. Each class has a specialist SEN teacher and up to five teaching assistants. LCC classes offer a smaller class size, high levels of adult support and a highly individualised learning experience for children to ensure barriers to learning are removed and children are supported to make progress against the National Curriculum. Where appropriate, children in the LCC will also integrate with their mainstream peers and join for specific activities or lessons. We also offer daily focus groups which offer targeted interventions for specific groups of children who have been identified as needing further support in specific areas of the curriculum and their learning.

In the LCC, we are passionate about bringing learning to life and prioritise curriculum extension visits into our local community. These visits support us in becoming independent and safe whilst out in the community. You may see us in the local area as we often visit parks, shops and spend time learning how to be safe near the road and crossing the road sagely. Some of us will soon be heading off on visits further afield with our Year 6 children eagerly anticipating their London residential visit!

In the LCC, we pride ourselves in supporting children with their behavioural and emotional regulation needs and each class has a dedicated space that children can access to regulate and to have their sensory needs met. We have a wonderful sensory room which offers a calm, inviting space which allows children to relax and regulate in a place they feel safe and comfortable. We have class based sensory circuits with a variety of different challenges that all children can access as well as a sensory circuit all children can access and engage with as they make their way down the main corridor. Sensory circuits are a sequence of physical activities that are designed to alert, organise and calm the senses of the child. Staff support children to access sensory interventions to ensure children are alert and able to concentrate throughout the school day. They are also great fun! Staff support the children to explore, develop and utilise a variety of self-regulation strategies. Some classes make use of a ‘calm corner’ which is a safe space for children to explore feelings and emotions and explore how they can help themselves to feel calm regulate and ready to learn.

Many of our children have input from Speech and Language Therapists and participate in Riding for the Disabled (RDA) at Holme Lacy. We also enjoy regular swimming sessions at Halo Leisure Pool where we can develop our skills and learn how to keep ourselves safe in the water. We also have a beautiful forest school area and all children from the LCC access this on a weekly basis. Forest School encourages the development of social skills, new vocabulary and team building which are especially important for pupils in the LCC.

The LLC is an invaluable provision that prides itself in supporting children to achieve to the very best of their ability, integrate with their mainstream classes and to be happy, independent individuals that thrive and make progress regardless of their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or barriers to learning.