Our priority is the provision of high quality first teaching, adapted to meet the needs of all our learners. Class based approaches include alternative forms of recording work, visual prompts, small group or individual teaching etc. Class teachers and support staff are supported with regular professional development to support them in differentiating learning opportunities for the learners in their class.
Quality First Teaching -
In every class, activities are scaffolded and adapted in order that all children are appropriately challenged but are able to participate at their level. To support children with SEND, approaches may include: dyslexia friendly (buff paper, cream IWB backgrounds, reading overlays) visual timetable, signs and symbols for good looking, listening, sitting, stop prompt sign, triangular pencils and crayons, ergonomic pencils and pens, behaviour chart, phonics display and RML picture sound cards phonics mats, handwriting prompts, VCOP mats, Vocabulary Banks, HFW Display and mats, finger spacers, access to maths resources and prompts, carpet places, time out spot, sloped writing boards, EAL vocab where required, work stations for individuals, now and next boards, workstations, individual behaviour rewards and tracking.
Strategies: When identified, the class teacher will provide interventions that are additional to those provided as part of our curriculum. Triggers for intervention are underpinned by evidence, about a child who despite receiving scaffolded learning opportunities makes little or no progress and:
• shows signs of difficulty in developing literacy or mathematics skills
• presents persistent emotional or behavioural difficulties which are not ameliorated by the behaviour management techniques usually employed in this school;
• has sensory or physical problems, and continues to make little or no progress despite the provision of specialist equipment;
• has communication and/or interaction difficulties
External: In some cases, professionals from health or social services may already be involved with a child. Where these professionals have not already been working with the school staff, the SENDCO may contact them if the parents/carers agree. The SENDCO will support the further assessment of the child, assisting in planning future support for them in discussion with staff and monitoring the action taken. The child’s class teacher will remain responsible for working with the child on a daily basis and for planning and delivering an individualised plan (PLP). Parents will always be consulted and kept informed of the action taken to help the child, and of the outcome of this action.
Agency support: The SEND Co-ordinator consults with relevant outside agencies and seeks advice, assessment and/or support. Examples of outside agencies include:
- Crystal4SEND
- Educational Psychology Service (EPS)
- Education Service for the sensory Impaired (ESSI) Education Welfare Service
- Behaviour Support Service (BSS)
- Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
- Occupational Therapist (OT) Physiotherapist
- School Health Service
- AIT- Autism inclusion team
- Children and Adolescence Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
- Paediatrics
- Malachi/ Family support service
- CYPASS
- Action for children
- SENIS
- Early years forum
- Early years area SENDCo
The SENDCO and class teacher will be provided with advice and resources to support the child from outside specialists. These resources could be; additional teaching time, classroom assistance and/or new strategies or teaching aids.
A PLP is drawn up and implemented by school, agency staff, parents and the pupil.
After the period of support/resource allocation – a review of the child’s progress must be made to agree on whether:
- a return to previous strategies if targets are met
- continued support at SEND support in school with a new PLP for a fixed period, continuing assess, plan, do, review cycles
- request for an EHCNA may be appropriate if the criteria is met.
Early Years- Early years includes children aged 3 – 5 years
Recognising SEND in early childhood is pivotal, as these are the years in which children are more impressionable and start to develop. Early years education is especially important in providing young children with the means to transition into compulsory education as they get older. In light of this growing need, we feel it is vital that education professionals in all education settings understand how to support children with SEND to achieve their best possible outcomes.The SEND Co-ordinator and class teacher continue to gather information about the pupil from school-based assessments and observations, and discussions with parents and outside agencies who may have been involved.
A PLP may written and implemented by the class teacher and parents. School staff (with parents where possible) review their progress at least every six to 12 weeks and record this on an PLP evaluation. The SEND Co-ordinator consults with relevant external support services who can help early education settings with advice on new PLP’s and targets, provide more specialist assessments, give advice on the use of new or specialist strategies or materials and, in some cases, support for particular activities.