Click here to download the SEND information report
SEND Information Report- Special Educational Needs / Disabilities (SEND)
The Local Offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care.
How does the school know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?
• We receive information from pupils’ previous settings and schools.
• The progress of all pupils is monitored regularly by class/subject teachers so that when a pupil is not making expected progress in a particular area of learning, the school can quickly identify the need for additional support. This will then be discussed with parents/carers and the pupil concerned.
• If parents/carers have concerns about the progress or attainment of their child they should in the first instance make an appointment to speak to the class teacher to discuss their concerns, who will then liaise with our Special Needs Coordinator (SENDCO) as appropriate.
How will the school support my child?
• Our school provision map shows the range of interventions in place in our school which may be used when we identify a need for additional support.
• When the school identifies the need for additional intervention to enable a pupil to make expected progress, the parents/carers will be informed of the planned support and may be invited to a meeting at the school to discuss this further. If the pupil meets the criteria for special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), a provision map will be created, detailing the exact support the pupil will receive.
• We will monitor the progress of all children receiving additional support to ensure that the provision we have put in place is having the impact we are expecting.
• Governors are responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the provision in place for pupils identified with SEND and they will receive a report from the SENDCO on the progress of pupils with SEND.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
• All teachers are provided with information on the needs of individual pupils so that they can plan the learning within our curriculum to ensure that all pupils are able to make progress.
• Differentiation is planned for groups and individuals according to need.
• Quality First Teaching will allow for individual learning and IEPs (Individual Education Plan) to run alongside general teaching.
How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?
• Annual reports and once termly Parents’ Evenings give all parents and carers regular feedback on their child’s up to date academic levels, individual reading, writing and maths targets and any behavioural, emotional or social difficulties.
• When appropriate, parents/carers may be contacted mid-term to discuss the support that the school are providing and how they can help their child at home: this may be a phone call or a meeting. Pupils’ views will be obtained and when appropriate, they may attend all or part of any meeting.
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
• The well-being of all of our pupils is our primary concern at Storth. They are supported with their social and emotional development throughout the school day, through the curriculum and extra-curricular activities. Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is integral to our curriculum. Daily Collective Worship following our values also supports all our pupils.
• Additional support from specialist staff is arranged as needed for individual pupils, both in and out of the classroom; a tailored personal plan may be put in place for pupils with the highest need.
• Our Behaviour Policy; which includes guidance on expectations, rewards and sanctions is fully understood and in place by all staff.
• We regularly monitor attendance, support pupils returning to school after an absence and take the necessary actions to prevent prolonged unauthorised absence.
• Relevant staff are trained to support medical needs and in some cases all staff receive training. We have a Medical policy in place (please see website).
• Pupils’ views are sought through the school council and other forums.
What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school?
• All external partners we work with are vetted in terms of safeguarding and when buying in additional services we monitor the impact of any intervention against cost, to ensure a value for money service.
• Educational outside agencies may include: Educational Psychology (EPS); Behaviour Support (BS); Speech and Language Support S+L); Outreach Services, including ASC.
• Specialist health services such as Speech and Language Therapy (SALT); Occupational Therapy (OT); Physio-therapy (PT); Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS); Behaviour Clinic and other health professionals.
• We work with Social Services, Family Support and Community Police
What training has the staff supporting children with SEND had or are having?
• We regularly invest time and money in training our staff to improve provision for all students, to develop enhanced skills and knowledge.
• Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCO) is qualified and holds the National Qualification in Special Educational Needs, as well as receiving ongoing SEN training in specific areas.
• All our teachers hold qualified teacher status and all staff members, including TAs and HLTAs, receive regular training to best support our pupils with SEND, for example in dyslexia, Autism, speech and language needs.
• Staff have the relevant First Aid training.
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom including school trips?
• Our Inclusion Policy (see website) promotes the involvement of all of our learners in all aspects of the curriculum including activities outside the classroom.
• Where there are concerns for safety and access, a personalised risk assessment is carried out to consider if reasonable adjustments can be made to meet any additional needs; if appropriate parents/carers are consulted and involved in planning.
How accessible is the school environment?
• We have an Accessibility Plan (see website) in place and where feasible, make reasonable adjustments to improve the accessibility of our environment to meet individual needs. Our policy and practice adhere to The Equality Act 2010.
How will the school prepare and support my child to join the school and transfer to a new school?
• We have an Induction programme in place for welcoming all new learners to our setting
• We have close links with our feeder settings and the settings that most of our pupils move onto; we share information to support pupils’ learning and well-being at transition.
• Further support is provided as necessary for those with SEND including additional visits to the new setting, both individually and as part of an enhanced transition programme for identified pupils.
How are the school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
• Our finances are monitored and audited regularly and we utilise resources to support the strategic aims of our setting as well as individual learner needs.
• We seek to ensure a ‘value for money’ service, therefore all interventions are costed and evaluated
How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
• All interventions are monitored for impact and outcomes are defined at the start of any intervention. The SENDCO oversees all additional support and regularly shares updates with the SEN Governor.
How are parents involved in the school? How can I be involved?
• We work in partnership with parents to support each child/young person’s well-being, learning needs, progress and aspirations.
• We operate an open-door policy to allow parents to contact their child’s class teacher with ease.
• Parents are invited to become involved in school life through a number of means eg the PTA, hearing children read and ongoing invitations to school events throughout the year.
• We host regular parent meetings to model our approaches to learning in various subjects, giving parents the confidence to support their child’s learning at home.
• Our Governing Body includes Parent Governors/representatives.
Who can I contact for further information?
In the first instance, parents/carers are encouraged to talk to their child’s class teacher. For students with SEND, further information and support can be obtained from the SENDCO. For complaints see the Complaints Procedure in the policies tab.