Interdisciplinary Team

Bettridge School enjoys a high staff:pupil ratio. Each class benefits from at least one teaching assistant, who helps the teacher plan, deliver and record the curriculum for the pupils. In addition, the class teacher works with specialist staff who may advise or facilitate individual education plans. These may be education-service peripatetic staff, teachers of the hearing impaired, visually or multi-sensory impaired, or the educational psychologist.  A music therapist visits weekly to provide sessions for individuals and small groups.

The school has close working connections with health professionals.  The Paediatric Consultants and members of the Community Learning Disabilities Team often visit and are frequently in consultation with school staff.

As part of the School Health Service, a Clinical Medical Officer undertakes regular school medicals and Paediatric Consultants hold frequent clinics. Other health professionals who provide a service at school from time to time include the school dentist, the audiologist, orthoptist, dietician and the chiropodist.  Bettridge is fortunate to have, based in school, a School Nurse, a Physiotherapist, a Speech and Language Therapist and an Occupational Therapist. The services which they provide to pupils are described below and form an important part of the educational context.

The school also has regular contact with Social Care Personnel. The primary link is with the Social Workers from the specialist team for Children with Learning Disabilities (CLDT). The Education Welfare Officer may be involved with individual families and from the age of 14 all pupils have the services of a Connexions Personal Advisor.