The D.E.N (Developing, Enriching, Nurturing)

The D.E.N is a High CoIn Unit based at Epsom Downs Community School that is built to support children by Developing, Enriching and Nurturing.

Our vision for the D.E.N is to provide a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and has a sense of belonging. The high quality, specialist teaching ensures that all children will become confident learners, who can thrive in a setting that can be adapted to suit their individual needs.

Each child in the D.E.N is a member of their mainstream class so they are able to spend dedicated time with their peers to develop social skills, access the wider curriculum and genuinely feel part of life at Epsom Downs. This is planned carefully around the individual skills of each child so that their experience in the mainstream classroom is meaningful, positive and empowering.

The D.E.N is a provision that supports pupils with a diagnosis of autism and those with communication and interaction needs (CoIn). Pupils benefit from a highly individualised curriculum, are taught by specialist teachers and supported by SEND teaching assistants who deliver lessons individually and in small groups to meet each child’s needs.

Evidence-based teaching strategies are embedded in the curriculum so that pupils are supported to progress in all areas of the curriculum, with a particular focus on the development of communication and language. The D.E.N team include Frances James, SALT, who spends each Monday in class, assessing and working directly with pupils, advising on strategies and providing training for teaching staff. 

The D.E.N fully embeds the Nurture principles which underpins our school ethos at Epsom Downs Community School to create a nurturing environment where all views are respected. In addition, the school values are an integral part of the D.E.N and will reflect the aims of Epsom Downs Community School to ensure we prepare all pupils for their futures- Learning Together: Succeeding Forever.

The D.E.N Admissions

We understand that navigating the admissions process for children with special educational needs can be challenging. While we cannot directly advise on placements, we are here to support you throughout this journey. Our team at The D.E.N. is committed to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for all our students.

As a school we do not lead on the admission as the school. Surrey County Council leads the admissions process for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) into our High CoIN – The D.E.N. Your SEND Case Officer is your best resource for specific placement advice and to initiate the consultation process. They can guide you through each step and ensure that all necessary information is considered.

Placements for our D.E.N. are allocated based on a formal consultation process. When we receive a consultation from your case worker, we will take a thorough look over the EHCP and any other paperwork which can include reports from EP, SALT and OT. This informs us on whether we are able to meet the needs of your child and offer them the provision they are entitled to. We need all of this information so that we can get a full picture and make an informed decision.

We are not able to advise over the phone as to whether we are the right placement for your child without all of the above information. Please contact your case worker if your child has High CoIN named in Section I of their EHCP and you would like them to consult us.

Visits to the D.E.N

If your child has High CoIN named on their EHCP, we would love to welcome you for a visit. Our open visits are a wonderful opportunity to see our specialist provision, meet our dedicated team, and get a feel for our supportive learning environment.

Our next availability for visits:

Thursday 27 March 3.30-4.30pm

We are only able to accept 6 families per visit and will add further visit dates for the summer term. Due to limited availability on the visits, please only sign up if your child has High CoIN recommended as their school provision or if you are awaiting a panel decision for High CoIN to be named. 

Please complete this Google form to book your place