Our school promotes a culture of recognising individual needs both immediate and long term and the combined skills of the EWI Team allows our students to benefit from a range of alternative learning experiences that complement the main curriculum.

This integrated team aims to provide a joint approach with intensive, targeted support for students in school and during care time to improve their social, emotional and mental wellbeing. The team aims to develop our students’ ability to engage in the learning process and become confident learners; adopt coping mechanisms to manage their behaviour more effectively and improve appropriate social skills.

The members of the team are:

Esme Anderton (Student & Family Co-ordinator) is the first point of contact when referrals are made to the school. She meets the families/carers and potential student and completes a ‘Pupil Profile’ which details schools attended including gaps in school attendance/learning; family dynamics; presenting behaviours and medical history. Esme remains the main point of contact for parents/carers and external agencies attending a range of meetings including CLA Reviews; CIN meetings; CP meetings, etc and generally advocates for our students and their families/carers

Jane Richards (Speech and Language Therapist) is in school for 4 days each week. Jane is responsible for developing the oracy curriculum and promoting the drive to improve oracy skills across school. Many young people who have social, emotional, and mental health needs (SEMH), also have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), i.e. oracy needs. These needs often go unrecognised because behaviour can mask difficulties with communication. Jane assesses all students as part of their induction at Bowden House and closely monitors their progress. Approximately 85% of our students have significantly impaired oracy skills when they start at Bowden.

The oracy needs of our students include difficulties with:

  • Understanding what is said
  • Expressing themselves clearly
  • Social skills.

Students with poor oracy skills also have difficulty with written language skills (reading and writing). Oracy and literacy skills are targeted throughout the day, in all lessons and in care. All our staff are trained and supported by Jane to develop oracy and literacy across the curriculum. She also provides individual and small group speech and language sessions and in class support to develop literacy and language skills.

Tracy Robinson (Educational Psychologist) is employed by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as the school’s Educational Psychologist and contributes to EHC Plans; Annual Reviews and informs and supports students in their learning and development in school and at home. The role of the team is to work collectively to support students in school to raise aspiration and potential. Interventions will be bespoke and based on individual need, as documented in the student’s EHCP. Resources will be directed effectively at individual students, through withdrawal or support in the classroom. The Team will aim not to withdraw any one student more than twice a week. The EWI Team work closely with the school’s Extended Leadership Team who identify students who might benefit from this additional, specialist support. A coordinated, personalised programme is then designed; reviewed on a regular basis and modified, when necessary.

Please see further details of the Emotional Well-being & Intervention Team under Policies.