Skip to content ↓
VacanciesMake a Booking

The Academy of Woodlands constantly strives to promote and provide an environment which is positive, supportive and inclusive.   

A new SEN Team began at The Academy of Woodlands in September 2021.  Our team is now: 

Mrs Meconi: SENCO 

Mrs Kirby SEN Admin 

Mrs Page: Wellbeing Mentor 

Miss Collins: Specialist Speech and Language Teaching Assistant 

Dottie: Therapy dog

Dottie - The Dog Mentoring Programme

Dottie has undertaken her dog mentoring training.  She has passed her Bronze, Silver and Gold Level Awards. 

The Power of the Dog Mentor Programme: 

  • Anxiety Reduction 
  • Attachment and Relationship Building 
  • Communication and Social Anxieties 
  • Desensitisation 
  • Problem Solving 
  • Social Interactions and Relationships 
  • Stress Coping Strategies 
  • Attention and Behavioural Difficulties 

The Dog Mentor programme has proven to have a positive impact on children in all areas of self-esteem, behaviour, peer relationships, and better engagement skills. These improvements have resulted in better academic achievements.  

While working with Dottie, children will learn about communication and body language, take part in ice-breaker games, discuss feelings, teach tricks and give treats to Dottie.  They can also complete a pupil workbook. 

The content of the workbook focuses on how we can use the human-animal bond to learn good communication with others and help to create a positive change. 

 The workbook contains information and activities such as: 

  • Weekly Journal 
  • About ME 
  • My Family 
  • Body Language 
  • Feelings and Emotions 
  • Worksheets and activities  
  • Tricks and treats for training  

 

Please see the bottom of the page for the dog mentoring programme risk assessment.

Wellbeing Support for Parents

Please click the links below for some useful documents relating to Wellbeing Support for Parents:

If you have any concerns about your child, please always speak to their class teacher in the first instance, as they know your child best and may be able to put immediate support in place or advise what they are already doing to support your child.   

Please see the SEN Information Report attached at the bottom of this page, which details how we provide provision for children with special educational needs. 

Please also see the useful links tab below which has links to support available in Medway for families with children with special educational needs and the Medway Local Offer tab details all services available in Medway. 

Medway Local Offer

The Local Offer is an online hub that lets young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers know what services are out there for them, and how they can access them.

The Medway Council Local Offer - https://www.medway.gov.uk/localoffer

Helpful Links

  1. AOW - Dottie March 23
  2. Dog Mentor Risk Register
  3. SEND-policy.
  4. SEND-information-report
Cookie Policy