Therapeutic & Medical Support

Students at Bradfields Academy may have additional needs that could potentially limit their full access to lessons and other activities.

These may be:

  • Medical Needs
  • Social and Emotional Needs
  • Health & Well-being
  • Speech & Language Needs

and many more.

At Bradfields, we have a team of professionals dedicated to helping students develop strategies to overcome these barriers to learning. Both our recent Ofsted reports have highlighted the value of this team stating they are “second to none” and that “the additional support students receive allows them to make outstanding progress”.

To find out more about Counselling, Drama Therapy, Play Therapy or Speech, Language and Occupational Therapy (SLOTP), and Medical, please click on the relevant drop-down menus.

Speech, Language and Occupational Therapy (click to expand)

What we do

The Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy (SLOTP) team work with students that have been identified by the therapy team as needing additional support either in speech and language, physiotherapy or occupational therapy.

  1. We provide input to those students whose speech and language is delayed beyond their learning ability.
  2. We give the opportunity to those students with physical difficulties to carry out their physio programmes in the academy.
  3. If the students have difficulties with sensory issues we can provide strategies and input therapy.

At Bradfields we have strong links with the children’s therapy team to ensure that while your child’s needs are met it doesn’t impact on their education.

Most sessions take place on a 1:1 basis so the student gets the maximum support to achieve their individual targets.

These sessions are designed to be fun and interactive and give encouragement to meet their challenging targets.

If Parents/Carers want any advice or resources to support their child at home we can provide this.

A room with various mobility aids and therapy equipment. A room with a therapy bed, exercise balls, and various therapy equipment.

Therapy team

The external providers of therapy work closely with the academy. We have a speech therapist come into Bradfields once a week to work with individual students and to assess or review their progress.

Also occupational therapists and physiotherapists attend on a regular basis to monitor progress.

These therapists give training and support to the SLOTP team and teaching staff.

Referrals

Students may come to Bradfields with an existing programme or can be referred into the service whilst here.

When we make a referral to the service the most appropriate therapist will arrange an appointment with parents. These assessments will mainly take place at the academy and parents / carers will need to attend.

If the student requires input the therapist will write a programme which sets out their targets and activities to do. These programmes will be reviewed and updated 2/3 times a year.

Parents and carers are invited to the reviews and a copy of the report and programme is sent home.

Who to contact

SLOTP – Bradfields Academy

Churchill Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME5 0LB

Phone: 01634 683990 / Email: office@bradfieldsacademy.co.uk

MCH Children’s Therapy Team

Snapdragons Centre, Cliffe Road, Strood, Kent, ME2 3FF

Phone: 01634 334280

Medical & Welfare Support (click to expand)

Medical & Welfare Support at Bradfields Academy

The medical room provides :

  1. a) Medical & Welfare support for students with additional needs to enable them to access the curriculum.
  2. b) First Aid for any minor cuts, grazes and other injuries sustained during the day.

In the event that your child has to receive First Aid or other similar care, Parents and Carers will be sent information through SchoolComms.  If it is a head injury, then the Medical Team will call the Parent/Carer.

In the medical room we:

  • Support students with medical conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and ADHD.
  • Support students with physical impairments and hearing and visual impairments.
  • Support students with personal care needs such as, assisting with eating, drinking, washing,   dressing, menstruation and toileting.
  • Administer prescribed medication including   epipens, asthma relievers, buccolam and a variety of ADHD medication
  • Provide First Aid.
  • Provide Personal Care.
  • Care for students who become ill during the academy day.
  • Work closely with the NHS Trust school nurse, advisory teacher for visual impairment and the advisory teacher for hearing impairment.

Where a student has complex medical needs the medical team will devise a health care plan and personal care plan in co-operation with the student, parent/carer and other professionals.  This will be reviewed and updated as and when required to meet the student’s medical needs.

All medicines must be in the original container (including Asthma Relievers) as dispensed by a pharmacist and must include  the following information :

  • Name of child
  • Name of Medicine
  • Prescribed dose      
  • Method of administration
  • Time/frequency of administration
  • Expiry date
  • Any side effects

Medicines not presented properly cannot be accepted.

We are unable to make changes to dosage on parental/carers instructions.

We cannot administer non-prescription medicines.

We cannot administer Aspirin or medicines containing Ibuprofen to students unless prescribed by a doctor.

We can administer Paracetamol and Paracetamol Suspension (Calpol) with prior written consent.

Medicines cannot be administered without written consent from parents/carers. Consent forms can be obtained from reception or from the website.

The following facilities are also available to students in the Medical Room :

  • Accessible toilets, hoist and changing facilities
  • Shower facilities
  • Personal care provisions
  • Safe storage of medicines
  • Lost property
  • Bed with privacy screen

For further information please call 01634 683990 or email: office@bradfieldsacademy.co.uk

Drama Therapy (click to expand)

Drama Therapy is one of the creative arts therapies; this means it uses elements of drama and creative techniques to achieve therapeutic outcomes.  The aim is to offer a safe space for expression and reflection in a safe environment.

Drama Therapy uses a language that the students understand in order for them to express themselves and look at the issues within their lives.  Group work offers a chance to connect with others and share experiences, often students realise that they are not alone in their experiences and this reduces feelings of isolation.

Drama Therapy can be brief or long term and has its heart in the therapeutic relationship; support supporting and nurturing personal growth.

The focus is on the process rather than producing a piece of performance.  Drama Therapy invites students to work spontaneously using a variety of verbal and non-verbal techniques which may include:

  • Drama games
  • Creating or using stories
  • Drawing and sculpting
  • Enacting and embodying characters and roles
  • Movement and body work
  • Voice work

Emphasis on choice is promoted to establish a sense of ownership for each person with their work.

General aims:

  • To build confidence and enhance self-esteem
  • To promote self-awareness
  • To offer different perspectives
  • To reduce feelings of isolation
  • To provide a space to express different sides of the self
  • To gain insight into behaviour

Specific aims:

  • Will be created according to the inclinations of the group or individual

 

Play Therapy (click to expand)

Jigsaw Play Therapy Service at Bradfields

Play Therapy is a proven process that helps students to explore and then understand difficult feelings and situations which can cause them to become anxious, aggressive, disruptive, unhappy, highly emotional, withdrawn or simply unable to concentrate. Play is a child’s natural form of expression and as we get older we can often forget how important the ability to play is to us. Whilst adults are more able to express themselves verbally, the students at our academy may be more able to consider, identify and acknowledge their feelings through play.

Who is Play Therapy for?

  1. Low Self-Esteem 
  2. Bullying or Being Bullied 
  3. Separation / Loss 
  4. Bereavement 
  5. Peer Relationships 
  6. Appears Sad or Withdrawn 
  7. Suffers anxiety, stress or phobias 
  8. Being placed in the Care System 
  9. Anger / Aggression 
  10. Autistic Spectrum 
  11. Poor Attendance 

Why should we choose Play Therapy? 

Play Therapy enables the participant to reflect on, understand, accept and work through difficult emotions in a safe and emotionally supportive environment. They are able to choose to express themselves both verbally and non-verbally making use of the offered toys and creative arts materials. We call these things the ‘Tool-kit’. 

Clay, Dance and Movement, Sandplay, Small World Play, Storytelling, Puppets, Music, Art, Drama / Role Play, and Creative Visualisation.

How does it work?

If you feel that your child would benefit from Play Therapy you are welcome to make a referral. Referrals can also be made by staff and of course students themselves. Once all the paperwork including parental permission is received and we are ready to begin, the sessions will be set for the same day and time each week. There is a lovely well equipped room allocated for this purpose within the academy.

I use a predominantly non-directive person centred approach which enables those engaged to work at a pace that suits them.  A more directive approach can be applied, if required.

This method ensures that students begin to self-reflect rather than be guided towards a solution which they may not be confident with. Working this way helps them to build trust in the therapeutic relationship and also in their own ability to ‘heal’ themselves.