All areas of school life are inclusive and teaching is tailored towards individual learning providing challenge and support, encouraging everyone to reach their full potential. Account is taken of individual needs through appropriate differentiation of the curriculum both in the classroom and, where appropriate, in an individual or small group situation. 

We fully embrace person-centred practices in our school and as such aim to include both ALN pupils and their parents in any decisions that might affect them. All children who are identified as having ALN will be in receipt of an Individual Development Plan which includes a One Page Profile.  Further support can be gained through the services of specialist teachers or educational psychology team.

The Governor designated as having special responsibility for Additional Learning Needs is Mr George Tackley. The ALNCo at school (Coordinator of provision for Additional Needs and Inclusion) is Ms Beth Williams.

Lakeside opened in 1963 and has a number of challenges associated with schools of this era. Over the last 6 years, a number of large-scale improvements have been made including a new roof for part of the building and a perimeter fence has been installed. Classroom furniture has been refurbished to meet the needs of the curriculum in classrooms; learning and intervention areas have been updated, the Wellbeing Class was built, including the relocation and refurbishment of our Dragonflies club, and a new office and foyer area has been installed. Classroom areas were audited alongside the work for Dyslexia Friendly Schools and were noted as being good environments for learning.

We are lucky to have extensive grounds on the site with two football pitches, a large field and three playground areas. New outdoor decking and canopies were installed in the lower school and the Winnie the Pooh Half Acre Wood Garden was created following a community pupil voice piece of work completed during lockdown.  The garden has re-shaped the front of the school into a beautiful and tranquil area that pupils and staff enjoy. More recently the kitchen was refurbished in readiness for the roll out of UFSM for all pupils. Outdoor learning is set as part of the PPA programme and includes a new outdoor classroom area courtesy of Admiral Insurance. The Bronwen’s Wish Wellbeing pod is now complete and will prove a valuable addition to our outside space as well as being the first facility of its kind in a Cardiff school, designed specifically with child wellbeing in mind.  

Local Authority Wellbeing Class

At Lakeside we host a local authority specialist provision Wellbeing Class for pupils with emotional health and wellbeing needs that children attend via a local authority referral.  Empathy and acceptance are at the heart of what we do. We help the children to form  positive attachments and build  resilience through positive relationships. Our focus is providing an environment which allows the children to explore their feelings and to develop ways to regulate their emotions and manage their behaviours. We work with families to help to provide a consistant approach. We give the children opportunities to express and explore emotions, accepting and supporting their individual needs.  Our classroom is a purpose built, safe learning environment which allows opportunties for lots of fun both inside and outside. The routines we develop are predictable and provide security.

We follow a bespoke curriculum with an emphasis on wellbeing. We use the following approaches: 

• PACE – Playful, Accepting, Curious and Empathetic.
• Thrive – a focus on promoting wellbeing and understanding emotional and social development.
• Nurture –is important for the development of self esteem, language is understood as a vital means of communication.
• Relationship Based Play approach – build trust, practise self regulation strategies and connect through lots of fun games.