SEND

How We Support SEND

Delapre Primary School prides itself in being inclusive, and we will endeavour to support every child regardless of their level need.  All of our pupils follow the National Curriculum at a level and a pace that is appropriate to their abilities. However, at times when it is felt appropriate, modifications to the curriculum may be implemented.

To enable us to successfully meet a pupil’s needs at their ability level, we may take the following actions:

  • Ensure that all pupils have access to the school curriculum and all school activities.
  • Help all pupils achieve to the best of their abilities, despite any difficulty or disability they may have.
  • Ensure that teaching staff are aware of and are sensitive to the needs of all pupils, teaching them in a way that is more suitable to their individual needs.
  • Support pupils to grow in confidence and improve their self-esteem.
  • Work in partnership with parents/carers, pupils, and relevant external agencies in order to provide for children’s special educational needs and disabilities.
  • To identify at the earliest opportunity, all children that need special consideration to support their needs (whether these are educational, social, physical or emotional)
  • To make suitable provision for children with SEND to fully develop their abilities, interests and aptitudes and gain maximum access to the curriculum.
  • Ensure that all children with SEND are fully included in all activities of the school in order to promote the highest levels of achievement.
  • To promote self-worth and enthusiasm by encouraging independence at all age and ability levels.
  • To give every child the entitlement to a sense of achievement.
  • To regularly review the policy and practice in order to achieve best practice.

With the permission of parents/carers we may seek additional advice from outside specialists such as health professionals, specialist teachers or educational psychologists who would:

  • Carry out further assessment of the child’s needs
  • Provide advice to schools on how to best support the child
  • Suggest resources that would help the child make progress     

Our teachers/teaching assistants work in partnership with parents/carers and the SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator) to find ways to support each child with their needs, including giving parents/carers ideas on how to help their child at home.

Our school staff set targets for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) children which are shared with parents/carers, either during Parents’ Evening or Review Meetings.

If your child has Special Educational Needs our SENDCO will:

  • Ensure the right support is put in place for your child
  • Advise teachers and teaching assistants on how to help your child.
  • Ensure your child has an up to date One Page Profile and Learning Plan which details how needs will be met in school
  • Arrange training for staff so they understand your child’s needs
  • Work closely with you on a regular basis to talk with you about your child’s needs and listen to any ideas or concerns you might have
  • Work with other professionals (if necessary) who may be able to help your child e.g. Speech and Language therapists, medical professionals, educational psychologists

A One-page profile is written to outline how to support your child in school. It is written with your child (when possible) to ensure it captures their voice. A Learning Plan outlines the provisions in place for your child in school, targets to be achieved through these provisions, who will be delivering the provision and how often, to support your child’s learning.  All teachers are aware that children learn in different ways.  Some need to work at a slower pace to ensure they fully understand one thing before they move onto something new.

A SEND Support Plan is written to support your child’s learning in school. This includes a One Page Profile and Individual Learning Plan written specifically to support SEND needs. A SEND Support plan includes

  • Short term targets for the child which are linked to their individual needs
  • Details of any extra support the child will get
  • Who will provide the child support
  • How often the child will get support
  • How and when we will look at the child’s progress again (usually at least twice a year)

A copy of the child’s SEND Support Plan is given to the parents/carers.

 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 in view of obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan to support learning.

This is a very detailed assessment of each child’s needs. Parents or carers, the school and a range of professionals will all be asked to 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. Parents/carers also have the right to request that the Local Authority carry out an assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan, although it is usually best if this is done with the support of the school.

An Education, Health and Care Plan is only appropriate for a small number of children.

How do we identify and assess children with SEND?

Most children, including those with some special educational needs have their needs met in mainstream schools through good classroom practice. This is called Quality First Teaching.

A special educational need can be a number of different things. For example, a child may be having problems with reading, maths, or behaviour, which can be helped by putting extra support in at school and by working in partnership with parents/carers. Difficulties may also be due to a disability which makes it harder for a child to use the same educational facilities that the school provides for the majority of children.  For some children this may be a temporary difficulty, while others may have a long-term need for special help.  Through observations and ongoing assessment teachers may begin to have concerns about a child and therefore may suspect they have some kind of additional need.  They would discuss this with the SENDCo and with parents/carers.  It may be appropriate to refer for additional assessments to be carried out by outside specialists.

At Delapre Primary School, we follow a graduated support approach which is called “Assess, Plan, Do, Review”.

This means that we will:

  • Assess a child’s special educational needs
  • Plan the provision to meet your child’s aspirations and agreed outcomes
  • Do put the provision in place to meet those outcomes
  • Review the support and progress

As part of this approach, we will produce an Individual Learning Plan that describes the provision that we will implement to meet a child’s special educational needs. The Individual Learning Plan will have targets and agreed outcomes which we endeavour to meet through the implemented provision.

How we consult with our SEND pupils

The SEND children attending our school are aged 4-11 years, so consulting with them to seek their views about how we are meeting their needs has to be age appropriate.

We use the following strategies:

  • Make close observations during school to identify the types of activities and experiences that most engage each child so these can be developed further and be used inform future planning
  • Extend resources to support individual learning styles
  • Most importantly, ensure the children with SEND are happy, motivated and make expected levels of progress throughout their time in school.

Consultation with parents and carers of children and young people with SEND

We are committed to working with parents and carers to identify and support their child’s needs.  Parents and carers will be involved throughout the process.

There is a range of ways this can be done, for example:

  • Twice yearly parents’/carers’ evenings;
  • Ongoing discussions with a class teacher and/or SENDCo;
  • An ‘open-door’ policy, where parents and carers are welcome to come into school to discuss any concerns they may have;
  • Through a review of a child’s Individual Learning Plan or the Annual Review of their Statement of SEND or EHC Plan.

Additional Help

Please do not hesitate to contact the school to arrange an appointment with Mrs Simpson (SENDCo - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator) if you require additional help or support. Please email enquiries@delapre.northants.sch.uk and mark for the attention of SENDCo.

You can also talk to SENDIAS on 01908 254518 – an impartial source of information, advice and support for parents/carers.