Montacute School understands its responsibility to ensure that all the children and young people in our care are safe, supported, and able to reach their full potential. Some children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those who have neuro divergent learning styles, may need additional support in understanding their own identity. Some may need support in learning about those who are different to them, and in understanding and accepting that difference is to be respected and celebrated.

Many children and young people with SEND may have less freedom than their peers to make choices for themselves. This might include what clothes they wear, their hairstyle or what groups, activities and toys they have access to. Montacute School staff will support parents, carers and personal assistants to develop and promote the child or young person’s independence and advocacy skills from an early age.

We will support staff, parents, carers, families and wider professionals to understand that a child or young person with SEND is just as likely to be LGBTQ+ as any other person. It is essential that the child or young person is accepted for who they communicate they are, and that support is given (if needed) for them to explore what they are experiencing. Not all children and young people will go on to identify as LGBTQ+. It is important that they know it is OK to change their minds, but it is equally important that gender identity or orientation differences are not dismissed.