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WESTON POINTCOMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL SEND POLICY |
COMPLIANCE Weston Point Primary School Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) policy complies with the statutory requirement laid out in the SEND Code of Practice 0 – 25 (January 2015) and has been written with reference to the following guidance and documents: • Equality Act 2010: advice for schools DfE Feb 2013 • SEND Code of Practice 0 – 25 (January 2015) • Schools SEN Information Report Regulations (2014) • Statutory Guidance on Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions April 2014 • The National Curriculum in England Key Stage 1 and 2 framework document Sept 2013 • Safeguarding Policy • Teachers Standards 2012 • This policy was created by the school's SENCO with the SEN Governor in liaison with the SLT, all staff and parents of pupils with SEND - refer to co-producing policy in the spirit of current reform. Howard Flanders the SENCo is the person responsible for managing our settings response to the provision we make for children and young people with SEN. Howard Flanders , the SENCo is a member of the SLT: The SENCo provides professional guidance to colleagues and works closely with staff, parents and outside agencies. Every teacher is a teacher of every child or young person including those with SEND. AIM This SEND policy details how Weston Point Community Primary School will do its best to ensure that the necessary provision is made for any pupil who has special educational needs and those needs are made known to all who teach them. We will use our best endeavours to ensure that teachers in the school are able to identify and provide for those pupils who have special educational needs to allow pupils with special educational needs join in the activities of the school together with pupils who do not have special educational needs. At Weston Point Community Primary School, we aim to raise the aspirations and expectations for all pupils with SEND, and provide a focus on outcomes for children and young people and not just hours of provision/support. We recognise that the teacher in the classroom will make the biggest difference to children with additional educational needs, and that teachers can be well supported by additional interventions and programmes in groups or as individuals led by teaching assistants and other adults. The staff and governors of Weston Point Community Primary School will endeavour to ensure that all SEND students reach their full potential, are fully included within the school community and are able to make successful transfers between educational establishments. This policy aims to support all members of staff in providing positive whole school approaches towards the learning, progress and achievement of SEND students. All teachers are teachers of SEND students. Teaching and supporting such students is, therefore, a whole school responsibility requiring a whole school response. Meeting the needs of SEND students requires partnership working between all those involved - LA, school, parents/carers, students, children's services and all other agencies. OBJECTIVES 1. To identify and provide for pupils who have special educational needs and additional needs 2. To work within the guidance provide in the SEND Code of Practice, 2015 3. To operate a "whole pupil, whole school" approach to the management and provision of support for special educational needs 4. To provide a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) who will work with the SEND Policy 5. To provide support and advice for all staff working with special educational needs pupils 6. Ensure that the funding provided for SEND is used to deliver the necessary provision for any pupil who has SEND 7. Ensure all parents/carers and pupils are part of the identification and provision mapping process. 8. Ensure that parents/carers have knowledge about the SEND provision that the school makes, is able to make their views known about how their child is educated and have access to information, support and advice regarding their child's SEND. 9. Ensure that teachers in the school are aware of the importance of identifying, and providing for those pupils who have SEND 10. Ensure that a pupil with SEND joins in the activities of the school together with pupils who do not have SEND 11. Have a written SEND policy containing the information as set out in the Special educational needs and disability code of practice 0-25 years January 2015, the school prospectus, including the name of the person responsible for coordinating SEND provision. 3 IDENTIFYING SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Students have special educational needs if they have a difficulty which calls for special education provision to be made for them e.g. which is in addition to or different from areas differentiated curriculum plans. Weston Point Community Primary School regards students as having a SEND if they: • Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of students of the same age; • Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided The SEN Code of Practice refers to 4 areas of need: • Communication and Interaction • Cognition and Learning • Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties • Sensory and/or Physical These four broad areas give an overview of the range of needs that can be planned for. The purpose of identification is to work out what action the school needs to take, not to fit a pupil into a category. At Weston Point Community Primary School, we identify the needs of pupils by considering the needs of the whole child, which will include not just the special educational needs of the child. Children identified as benefitting from additional support or interventions are monitored against the targets set and their progress is analysed termly against national expectations. Pre and post intervention checks are carried out to ensure the impact is effective. We follow the 'assess, plan, do, review' model and ensure that parents/carers and children are involved in each step. Other factors which may also impact on progress and attainment include: • Disability (the Code of Practice outlines the "reasonable adjustment" duty for all settings and schools provided under current Disability Equality legislation – these alone do not constitute SEND) • Attendance and Punctuality • Health and Welfare • EAL • Being in receipt of Pupil Premium Grant • Being a Looked After Child • Being a child of Serviceman/woman 4 A Graduated Approach to SEN Support • Teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of the pupils in their class, including where pupils access support from teaching assistants or specialist staff. • High quality teaching, differentiated for individual pupils, is the first step in responding to pupils who have or may have SEND. Additional intervention and support cannot compensate for a lack of good quality teaching. At Weston Point Community Primary School, the SLT regularly and carefully review the quality of teaching for all pupils, including those at risk of underachievement. This includes reviewing and, where necessary, improving, teachers' understanding of strategies to identify and support vulnerable pupils and their knowledge of the SEND most frequently encountered. In order to decide whether to make special educational provision, the teacher and SENCo consider all of the information gathered from within the school about the pupil's progress, alongside national data and expectations of progress. This should include high quality and accurate formative assessment, using effective tools and early assessment materials. For higher levels of need, we draw on more specialised assessments from external agencies and professionals. We work closely with the following to support our children's needs: all Therapy services including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy. Specialist services including the Autism Team, behaviour consultant, CAMHS and the Educational Psychology services. To decide whether to place pupils on the register, we take steps as a school in applying the ASSESS – PLAN - DO – REVIEW cycle. Children identified as benefitting from additional support or interventions are monitored against the targets set termly and their progress is analysed termly against these targets and, where appropriate, national expectations. The class teacher and the SENCo are responsible for starting and maintaining a Pupil Profile for the child. These are living records which tell us exactly what needs have been identified and how to remove key barriers to learning effectively. There is a core expectation that the teacher holds the responsibility for evidencing progress according to the outcomes described in the plan. Support is provided by the SENCo, where necessary. Pre and post intervention checks are carried out to ensure the impact is effective. We follow the 'assess, plan, do, review' model and ensure that parents/carers and children are involved in each step. Level of provision is decided by the class teacher, SENCO and SLT. If additional advice and support is needed from outside agencies, such as Educational Psychologist, etc, the SENCo and teacher will meet with the parents to discuss this and gain the relevant permission. Outside agencies are then contacted through the SENCo and referral documentation completed. All further arrangements are negotiated between SENCo, class teacher, parents and the agency representative. In very few cases, if a young person continues to demonstrate significant cause for concern despite interventions carried out and recommendations from outside agencies detailed in the Pupil Profile, a request may be made to the LA for Statutory Assessment. This will decide the nature of the provision necessary to meet the young person's SEN/D. If this cannot reasonably be met by the school, then the LA may provide extra resources. In exceptional circumstances, a child may be referred straight to Statutory Assessment The school will provide written evidence through the completed Pupil Profile to the LA detailing: • the school's action through identifying additional needs • records of regular reviews and their outcomes • the pupil's health including the pupil's medical history where relevant • National Curriculum level attainments in literacy and mathematics • educational and other assessments, for example from a specialist support teacher or an educational psychologist • views of the parents and of the pupil • involvement of other professionals for example involvement by the education welfare service. • Parents/carers are actively encouraged to be partners in their child's education through; informal discussions with the class teacher, SENCO, telephone contact, home/school diaries, Pupil Profile discussions, progress reviews and yearly written reports. Element 1 Core education funding Mainstream per pupil funding (AWPU) School budget Element 2 Additional support funding 13 hours for additional support required by a pupil with high needs School notional SEN budget Element 3 Top up funding Top up funding from the commissioning local authority to meet the needs of pupils with high needs in addition to element 1 and 2 Local Authority central budget 6 SECTION 5: CRITERIA FOR EXITING THE SEN REGISTER/RECORD As the Pupil Profiles are reviewed termly, if a child has made sufficient progress in their particular need that they no longer require a Pupil Profile, the class teacher and SENCo will discuss this and decide if the child is ready to come off the SEN register. SECTION 6: SUPPORTING PUPILS AND FAMILIES Our SEND information report can be found on the school website. If you have specific questions about the Halton Local Offer please look at the HBC website. The School admits children with SEND where their learning difficulty or disability can be catered for within the mainstream setting. In addition to seven children in the Resource base who have been identified by The LA as children who require soecialist provision .We have due regard for the practice advocated in the Code of Practice, in that schools: · Must consider applications from parents of children who have SEND but do not have an EHC plan on the basis of the school's published admission criteria as part of normal admissions procedures · Must not refuse to admit a child who has SEND but does not have an EHC plan because they do not feel able to cater for those needs · Must not refuse to admit a child on the grounds that they do not have an EHC plan (SEND Code of Practice: 0 - 25 years, section 1.27) SECTION 7: SUPPORTING PUPILS AT SCHOOL WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS • The school recognises that pupils at school with medical conditions should be properly supported so that they have full access to education, including school trips and physical education. Some children with medical conditions may be disabled and where this is the case the school will comply with its duties under the Equality Act 2010. • Our arrangements in school to support pupils with medical conditions can be found in detail in the school's Policy for Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions. • Some may also have special educational needs (SEND) and may have enhanced provision, or Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan which brings together health and social care needs, as well as their special educational provision and the SEND Code of Practice (2014) is followed. SECTION 8: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF SEND At Weston Point School, the SLT regularly and carefully review the quality of teaching for all pupils, including those at risk of underachievement. This includes reviewing and, where necessary, improving, teachers' understanding of strategies to identify and support vulnerable pupils and their knowledge of the SEN most frequently encountered. Evaluation and monitoring arrangements promote an active process of continual review and improvement of provision for all pupils 7 SECTION 9: TRAINING AND RESOURCES • In order to maintain and develop the quality of teaching and provision to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils, all staff are encouraged to undertake training and development. These may be identified by the SLT or SENCo, or may be requested by individual staff. • All teachers and support staff undertake induction on taking up a post and this includes a meeting with the SENCO to explain the systems and structures in place around the school's SEND provision and practice and to discuss the needs of individual pupils. • All of our teachers have undertaken further professional development. This includes, Dyslexia Friendly Classroom training, Speech and Language training ,Asthma and Allergy. • Our teaching assistants also have a range of expertise including programmes such as: Reading Recovery, maths, dyslexia support, and behaviour support. This is not an exclusive list and on-going professional development is key to ensuring all staff remain updated and skilled. • The school's SENCO regularly attends the LAs SENCO network meetings in order to keep up to date with local and national updates in SEND. SECTION 10: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Governors have responsibility for the strategic overview of and the implementation of the SEN Policy. The day-to-day management and organisation of SEN at Weston Point Primary School is the responsibility of the Head teacher and SENCo. Governors will make sure that they are fully involved and will undertake review and monitoring of the school's SEN Policy. All governors, especially the SEN Governor will ensure that they are up to date and knowledgeable about the school's SEN provision. • Role of SEN Teaching Assistants is managed by the Headteacher and deputy head. •N Curphey, Headteacher and Howard Flanders have specific Safeguarding responsibility • We have 12 qualified first aiders on staff to manage the medical needs of all children. The Governing Body has a statutory duty towards pupils with SEND and will follow the guidance as set out in the Code of Practice 2015. Information about the implementation of the governing body's policy for pupils with SEND is summarized in the school's contribution to the Local Authority's Local Offer which can be accessed via the school website. This information is updated annually. This policy document is also available via the website. The Governing Body responsibilities to pupils with SEND include: • Ensuring provision of a high standard is made for SEND pupils; • Ensuring that pupils with SEND are fully involved in school activities; • Having regard to the Code of Practice when carrying out these responsibilities; • Being involved in developing and subsequently reviewing the SEND policy. The Headteacher The Headteacher has responsibility for: • Management of all aspects of the school including SEND provision; • Keeping the Governing Body fully informed about SEND within the school; • Working closely with the SENCo; and • Ensuring that the school has clear and flexible strategies for working with parents/carers, and that these strategies encourage involvement in their child's education. 8 The Special Educational Needs Coordinator SENCo The SENCo has a fundamental role to play in the process of providing for the child's needs. It is his responsibility to ensure that the School's Policy is put into practice, the agreed systematic process for the identification, assessment and provision for SEN/D is employed correctly and to monitor and evaluate the School's provision. • Specific responsibilities include • Coordinate the day to day provision for SEN children • Review the SEND and intervention registers regularly. • Regularly monitor/update the provision map to enable identification of support provided throughout the school • Liaise with and give advice to fellow teachers • Oversee records of children with SEND • Liaise with parents • Make a contribution to INSET • Liaise with external agencies, Local Authority support services, health and social services and voluntary bodies Class Teachers A whole school approach is fundamental to our Policy for children with SEND. Our staff work together to develop and review our procedures for identifying, assessing and making provision for pupils with SEND. Class Teachers will be involved in close liaison with parents and carers, and when targets on the Individual Education Plan, child centred support plan or Individual Behaviour Plan, sections of the Pupil Profile are class based, the teacher will lead discussions, with the SENCo as support. It is important to remember that even for children with full time teaching assistant support, the class teacher has ultimate responsibility for that child's learning and progress. The Code of Practice clearly acknowledges the importance allocated to the teacher, whose responsibilities include: • To identify children who are experiencing difficulty in making adequate progress; • To differentiate within the classroom and to provide appropriate opportunities and resources; • To monitor and record the progress of the child as an ongoing process; • Developing Individual Education Plans for SEND pupils in collaboration with the SENCo, where necessary; • To inform parents of areas of concern and to seek support from parents; and • At the early stage of identification, to liaise with the SENCo to ensure appropriate provision is available for the child. Teaching Assistants Teaching Assistants have a crucial role to play in SEND provision within School. They will deliver programmes of work, generally in literacy, mathematics or speech, language and communication to groups of children who require additional support. The children may be taught within the class setting or withdrawn for certain activities. Class teachers should always involve Teaching Assistants in the planning process. Teaching Assistants should be informed of learning objectives for each activity, the needs of individual children in the group and their targets as identified on their Individual Education Plans. It is the responsibility of the Teaching Assistant to provide oral feedback to the class teacher on the progress of individual children. Parents Partnership with parents plays a vital role in enabling all children to achieve their potential. The school acknowledges that parents hold key information and have knowledge and experience to contribute to the shared view of the child's needs and the best ways of supporting them. They also provide a valuable source of support for their child's learning at home. All parents of 9 children with special needs will be treated as partners and encouraged to play an active role in their child's education. • Parents can contact the SENCo directly and are encouraged to do so • Parents are encouraged to give their support and comments to the Plan, Do, Review cycle • Parents are encouraged to give support at home whenever possible with the emphasis on raising self-esteem SECTION 11: STORING AND MANAGING INFORMATION All confidential SEND records are stored within the school in a locked cupboard. They follow the child to their transferring school. Details of how long documents are stored for can be found in the school's 'Length of Storage Time' policy SECTION 12: ACCESSIBILITY Details about accessibility can be found in the School's Accessibility Plan. The building is not fully accessible although our accessibility plan ensures that we are working to ensure where possible access is Improved There is a disabled toilet. We ensure, wherever possible, that equipment used is accessible to all children regardless of their needs. Extra-curricular activities are accessible for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Parents can contact any member of staff via the school office, the school website or by email. The details of specific SEN contacts are on the school website. SECTION 13 : DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS In the event of a complaint in respect of provision for a child with SEND, parents should first approach the class teacher or the SENCo. If this does not resolve the issue, it can be referred to the head teacher who will investigate and meet again with the parent within an agreed time frame. If an agreement cannot be reached the matter will be referred to the Governing Body who will respond to the issue within an agreed time scale. See School Complaints Policy for further details. SECTION 15: REVIEWING THE POLICY The SEN policy will be reviewed annually Signed: Chair of Governors Signed: Headteacher N Curphey SENCo Howard Flanders Agreed by Governors 27th February 2017
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