Updated January 2024
Our staff hold a wealth of experience to help support children with SEND. All staff receive regular training on working with children with Autism, Sensory and Perception difficulties, Motor difficulties, dyslexia, ADHD and behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. Members of our team are trained in delivering Speech and Language programmes. Also, we have a learning mentor who is accessible to the children whenever required and provides support to individuals and groups on social, emotional and behavioural issues they are experiencing. She works closely with the SENCo and parents to listen to and act upon any concerns, providing a supportive and nurturing team where the child’s needs are at the centre.
Within each class, teachers use a range of strategies to support children, depending on their needs, such as:
- Adaptive teaching to match the activity to the ability and need of the child
- Changing the way lessons are planned and delivered
- Using and adapting equipment and activities to suit each child’s need
- Offer small group support to promote skills identified in the child’s SEN support plan
Our Learning Support Assistants work closely with the class teachers to ensure the correct support and interventions are in place to enable the pupil to move forward in their learning.
With parental permission, we may seek advice from outside agencies. They will:
- Carry out further assessment of the child’s needs
- Provide advice to school and home on how to best support the child
- Suggest resources that would help the child make progress
If your child has Special Educational Needs our SENCO will:
- Work closely with parents on a regular basis to talk with them about their child’s needs and listen to any ideas or concerns they might have
- Work with other professionals who may be able to help individual children
- Ensure the right support is put in place for each child
- Advise other teachers and teaching assistants on how to help each child and ensure they have an up to date Support Plan detailing how their needs will be met in school
- Arrange training for staff so they understand each child’s needs
If a child’s needs are very complex and/or severe we may ask the Local Authority to carry out an Education, Health and Care Assessment:
- This is a very detailed assessment of each child’s needs. Parents or carers will all be asked to provide their views and the school and a range of professionals will provide written reports.
- At the end of the assessment phase the Local Authority will consider these reports to help decide whether or not to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan for the child.
- Education, Health and Care Assessment is only appropriate for a small number of children. Your school SENCO or the Parent Partnership Service will be able to advise you about this
How We Support Parents
We believe the partnership between school and parents is crucial to ensure children are receiving the best possible learning experiences. We pride ourselves on involving parents at every stage of a child’s school life. We hold termly parents meetings for all children and additional termly meetings for children with additional needs. If parents have any concerns, they can contact the child’s class teacher or the SENCo to discuss these. Following these discussions, a short note is completed and further action is taken, e.g. support is put in place or referrals made to external agencies for more advice. Progress and any assessment feedback is regularly shared with parents.
In our school, we have a Learning Mentor who is available to discuss any concerns parents may have and provide support where necessary.
