Inclusive Education 

Building Independence: How Our Inclusive Education Team Supports Your Child 

If you've ever watched a child struggle for a moment with something new, you'll know how strong the urge is to jump in and fix it for them. It comes from love, and from wanting to see them succeed. As our school's Inclusive Education team, we feel that same urge every day in the classroom – and knowing when to hold back is one of the skills we bring to supporting your child.

It's a technique called “wait and watch.” Rather than stepping in the instant a student looks stuck, we pause for a few seconds and observe: is the student thinking it through, hesitating, or genuinely unable to continue? That short pause – often only three to five seconds – gives students the chance to try, problem-solve and sometimes surprise everyone, including themselves, with what they can do on their own.

When support is needed, we don't jump straight to giving the answer. We start with the lightest touch that will help – perhaps just a quiet nudge like “what's your plan to start this?” – and only offer more direct help, such as a worked example or a clear instruction, if the student is still stuck. Giving the answer outright is treated as a last resort, kept for moments when a student truly cannot move forward or their safety is at risk.

Why does this matter? Because every time a student works something out for themselves, they build a little more confidence, a little more independence, and a clearer sense of what they're capable of. We're still right there, watching closely and ready to help – but our goal is always to grow a student's ability to think and act for themselves, not to create reliance on an adult nearby.

This approach sits at the heart of the support we provide across the school, and it reflects the skills base we bring to this role. It's also something you might like to try at home: next time your child is working through something tricky, a few quiet seconds before stepping in can make all the difference.

If you have any questions about the support your child receives, or about our Inclusive Education program more broadly, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Blessings,

Yiota Chesterfield

Inclusive Education Coordinator