Introduction:
All maintained schools in Buckinghamshire are supported by the local authority to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school.
All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible. As laid out in the SEND Code of Practice January 2015, the four main ‘areas of need’ are:
- Communication and Interaction;
- Cognition and Learning;
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties; and
- Sensory and Physical Needs
It is widely reported that there is a national issue about funding for SEND provision, and Amersham’s schools are no different in this regard. Whilst we will always do our best to support children’s needs we do not have unlimited resources. As a consequence it may be that we are not able to do everything that you, as a parent, would like. Supporting children’s additional needs has to be a team effort, and working with your school will always be the best approach.
Who are the best people to talk to at School about my child’s difficulties with learning or SEND?
The initial point of contact to discuss any concern you may have with regards to your child’s learning will be your child’s class teacher. In turn, they will raise any issues with the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). The SENDCo may observe your child within the school environment, speak to relevant staff and assess what support strategies may need to be put in place. All information will be communicated to you by means of a phone call, e-mail or meeting (face to face or online).
How can I let the school know I am concerned about my child’s progress in school?
If you have concerns about your child’s progress, you should speak directly to your child’s class teacher initially. If you continue to be concerned that your child is not making progress, you can speak to the Special Education Needs/Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo)
How will the school let me know they are concerned about my child’s learning in school?
If your child is identified as not making expected progress, we may contact you to set up a meeting to discuss this with you in more detail. We will listen to any concerns you may have, plan any additional support your child may need and discuss with you any referrals to outside professionals that may be made in order to support your child. This meeting may be done with or without your child present, depending upon the appropriateness of the discussion.
How is extra support allocated to children and how do they progress in their learning?
The school budget, received from the local authority in Buckinghamshire, includes money for supporting children with SEND. The Head Teacher and SENDCo decide on the deployment of resources for special educational needs and disabilities, in consultation with the school governors, on the basis of needs within the school. The Head Teacher and the SENDCo discuss all the information they have about SEND in the school, including children already receiving extra support, children needing extra support and children who have been identified as not making as much progress as would be expected. From this information, they decide what resources, training and support is needed.
The school identifies the needs of SEND pupils and creates an individual support plan. The support plan identifies all support given and is reviewed regularly and changes made as needed, so that the needs of children are met, and resources are deployed as effectively as
possible. Furthermore, it lists details of any interventions that a child may receive and how regularly they receive it. In addition to usual formative and summative assessments that take place within the class, the impact of small group work or interventions is monitored
Who is responsible for SEND at my child’s School?
We all are! As parents and educators, we all have a duty of care and responsibility to all our pupils.
Class Teacher
First and foremost your child’s class teacher is responsible for delivering ‘quality first teaching’ for all pupils within their class. This means that teachers are responsible for delivering high quality lessons every day which inspire and motivate the pupils to learn, whilst also meeting the needs of all individual learners. Your child’s class teacher is responsible for monitoring the progress of your child and identifying, planning and delivering any additional help your child may need (this could be targeted interventions or additional support) and letting the SENDCo know as necessary. Your child’s class teacher, support staff and the SENDCo together are responsible for setting targets for your child and sharing and reviewing these with you as a parent. This will be shared with you during the year. Your child’s class teacher will ensure your child receives personalised teaching and additional support as identified on their individual support plan. Your child’s class teacher is also responsible for ensuring that the school’s Special Educational Needs Policy is followed in their classroom and during their lessons for all the pupils they teach.
SENDCo
The SENDCo is responsible for developing and reviewing the school’s SEND policy in conjunction with stakeholders (parents, children with SEND, Head Teacher, Governors, staff, and partners from outside agencies). The SENDCo is also responsible for overseeing and coordinating all of the support for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) at School. They also ensure that you, as parents, are involved in supporting your child’s learning; and kept informed about the support your child is getting and involved in reviewing how they are doing. The SENDCo is responsible for liaising with all the other people who may be coming into school to help support your child’s learning, e.g. Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy. They will ensure that you receive the necessary paperwork such as consent forms and reports.
The SENDCo is responsible for updating the school’s SEND register (a system for ensuring that all the SEND needs of pupils in the school are known) and making sure that records of your child’s progress and needs are kept and maintained. The SENDCo also provides specialist support for teachers and support staff in the school, in order that they can help children with SEND in the school to achieve the best progress possible.
