SEND
Here at Featherstone All Saints C of E Academy we pride ourselves on an inclusive ethos where the needs of the individual pupil are paramount. We adhere to the admissions policy of Wakefield Local Authority.
We hope you find the following information useful.
- How does the school know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?
All children’s progress, academically, socially and emotionally, is constantly monitored by teachers and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) within the school. On entry into All Saints pupils are assessed against national standards. Each child’s progress is then monitored carefully. If the pupil’s progress is causing concern then parents are informed and invited into school to discuss the next steps. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) may be put into place at this time and options regarding possible external agency involvement may be discussed.
If you have concerns about your child’s progress then we would encourage parents to initially speak with the class teacher. Further meetings may then be arranged with the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) - at All Saints the SENCO is Mrs. D. Tunningley.
- How will school staff support my child/young person?
Class teachers plan for every child within their class and children with Special Educational Needs are given an additional education plan (supporting me to learn plan) to meet their needs. This supporting me to learn plan is developed alongside the child. The plan has two or three key targets which are small, measurable and relevant. The targets may include strategies to support both parents and staff within school working with the child. The plan also utilises advice from any outside agencies who may be involved with the child. The child is able to identify areas he or she wants to work on and this is shared with parents/carers. Supporting me to learn plans are reviewed every term with the child and shared with parents. All correspondence about any child is passed to the school’s SENCO who also monitors all plans termly.
The school has a designated School Governor who monitors SEN across the school. The school SENCO meets regularly with external agencies such as the Educational Psychologist, Communication and Interaction Team, Pre–5 service, Speech and Language, Learning Support service, the Behaviour Support Team, and the school’s own Learning mentor and any child needing support will be identified to the relevant professionals and given any support necessary. If a child requires additional support from an external agency, then school, with the permission of the parents, will put in a referral by beginning a My Support Plan.
- How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s/young person’s needs?
Through ‘Quality First Teaching’, school provides a curriculum to meet the needs of all children. All lessons offer the challenge and support necessary for each child to learn and where necessary differentiation occurs through planned activities, appropriately framed questioning or the support given. However, on occasions, a child may require more specific activities working in a small group or individualised support. At All Saints we have a number of such intervention groups; examples include Early Birds, 1st Class @ Numbers, Rapid Phonics and Rapid Maths. The impact of these are monitored regularly throughout the term
- How will I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?
There is an opportunity at the start or the end of the school day to briefly discuss your child and also arrange an appointment to meet your child’s class teacher or the SENCO. Parent Consultation meetings are held during the autumn and spring term, to discuss your child’s progress. In addition, the parents of those children who are on the SEN register are given opportunities to discuss and review their IEP and are invited to a ‘drop-in’ session on a termly basis.
Strategies are discussed at these meetings for parents/carers to support their child’s learning and teachers are available to discuss any concerns or issues throughout the school week. All children are tracked using school’s data tracking.
- What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
All Saints ensures that all children are supported socially and pastorally by staff who know their children.
School offers a wide range of activities both within school and the community to support their social and emotional development such as school visits, educational trips, links with the community and a range of cultural visits.
School has a medicine policy which supports parents/carers with the management of their child’s medication within school and staff regularly undergo training in key areas such as asthma, epilepsy and the use of Epi pens. If a child comes into school with a specific need, the school nurse will provide the relevant staff with training. The school also trains members of staff within school as first aiders ensuring we always have trained staff on any visit outside of school.
School has a behaviour policy which is known, used and adhered to by all staff across the school. Exclusions are rare in school and this is due to the high expectations school has of children’s learning and behaviour and the support from parents/carers. Children who need specific support with their behaviour will be identified and support will be provided. This support may range from additional support in the classroom, to interventions and support from the Behavioural Support Team or Learning mentor. Good behaviour is celebrated across school through class rewards and certificates.
Incentives to promote excellent school attendance include whole class certificates for 100% weekly attendance and individual certificates on a termly basis. School will text/ ring home to query a child’s non-attendance at school. School uses an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) who will support school and parents with ensuring children attend school regularly and on time.
- What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school?
School employs trained staff to educate and care for children throughout their primary years. Staff training is updated regularly in key areas of the curriculum and also in identifying and supporting children with specific difficulties around learning, child development and social and key emotional problems children may experience. School has direct access to a wide range of services all of which can support both parents/carers and children. These agencies include, speech and language, child psychology, the schools counselling service, CAMHS, Behaviour Support, Early Years, Social Services, Paediatricians and the school nurse.
- What are the options for staff training?
All staff receive regular training from the health service around key medical issues which could arise for children e.g. delivering physiotherapy to individual pupils. Certain staff are trained in First Aid and are strategically placed around school. The SENCO attends Local Authority training which is then shared with all staff. Many staff are Team-Teach trained which provides staff with ‘a framework to equip individuals with attitudes, skills and knowledge to facilitate environments that are free from fear and safe from harm.’
The SENCO provides in-house training on developing IEPs and around specific requests from staff, or as necessary to support a particular child or group of children. Where necessary for specific situations, specialist training is bought into the school. For example Communication Interaction Training to support pupils with limited language from the Communication and Interaction Team (CIAT) who provide school with training around a range of social and emotional needs,
- How will my child/young person be included in activities outside the classroom including school trips?
All Saints is fully-inclusive and all children attend all events and trips and are encouraged to take part in all activities both within and outside of school. Where necessary, extra support will be provided to ensure full participation by all children and parents are fully-informed as to the trips and activities open to every child. Some of the trips and educational visits may be subsidised by the school to ensure all children can access these extra-curricular activities.
- How accessible is the school environment?
The majority of All Saints is on one level, however currently Year 4 and 5 are educated in outside classrooms, where access could be a potential issue. There are currently no designated facilities for disabled changing and toilets.
The use of computers and lap tops enable all children to have access to new technologies to support their learning.
- How will the school prepare and support my child to join the school or to transfer to a new school or the next stage of education and life?
School encourage parents and children to visit the school and meet their new teacher prior to joining the school. A member of the School Leadership Team will show the child and parents around school and be available to answer any questions. Meetings are organised in the summer term prior to entry into the foundation stage. The SENCO, Mrs. D Tunningley, meets with SENCOs from feeder schools to discuss individual needs prior to the Year 6 pupils leaving in July.
- How are the schools resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
In April every year, the school receives a notional SEN budget. This funding is intended to support both existing SEN pupils with low cost High/incidence SEN and the first £6000 of support for high cost pupils. The school may receive additional funding (known as top up) agreed through the SEN panel (for high costs pupils) commensurate with the child’s level of need: 25% of the notional SEN will be used to support low cost/high incidence SEN and 75% of the notional SEN budget will be used to support the first £6000 of high cost pupils.
This 25% of the national SEN funding provides the mainstream support that the majority of children require. For example it contributes to the costs of training provided by outside agencies, additional external agency support such as speech and language therapy and play therapy, smaller class sizes and for support staff to work in class/ small group work, specialist resources which may be required – e.g. specialist chairs, lap tops, ICT software as well as time for teachers to complete meaningful individual education plans with the child and share with parents. Children in this category are classed as high incidence, low needs.
- How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
The school curriculum is differentiated to meet the needs of all children and this differentiation can take the form of: targeted questions, a change to the curriculum, support within the classroom by the class teacher or support staff and on occasions, the format in which tasks are given may be different. After discussing a child’s specific needs alongside the parents/carers and the child, the decision to give children extra support is determined in the first instance by the class teacher. He/she will make that decision if it is felt a child is not making sufficient progress in any particular area. Depending on the need, the class teacher will make the decision how to support a child. If a class teacher decides that a child needs more specialised help or more targeted support he/she will speak to the SENCO, who will determine if specialist advice is needed. The specialist support will be dependent on the need of the child but the professional involved could include: Speech and Language support, Educational Psychologist support, CAMHS support and school has access to a learning mentor in school. Further to this, the school holds ‘Drop in Meetings’ at which professionals are present to discuss provision for supporting children and families in school.
- Who can I contact for further information?
School has an ‘open door’ policy which means all staff are available every morning to meet their class and at this point parents/carers could ask for a meeting to discuss their child with the class teacher at a convenient time. If parents/carers feel that they wanted to discuss their child and their specific needs or any concerns they may have they can either, make an appointment to see the Head Teacher, or SENCO within the school. If parents are dissatisfied with the school’s response then Wakefield’s Parent Partnership service can become involved.
If you are considering sending your child to Featherstone All Saints C of E Academy you can ring the school on 01977 780225 to make an appointment with the Head Teacher, Mr. M. Jones, to arrange a visit to the school. During the visit you may be given a tour of the school by either a Senior Leader or the administration staff. At that point you will be given opportunities to discuss your child’s specific needs and ask any questions relating to your child’s education.
Inclusion and Special Educational Needs
We are committed to be fully inclusive where all members of our school are treated fairly and equally. By working in partnership with children, families and partner agencies, we ensure that all children receive the support they need to access all aspects of school life. We respect each child as an individual and have high expectations and aspirations for all.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child and would like to speak to us at school, then please do not hesitate to contact our SENCO - Mrs. D. Tunningley
Once you have done this, if you remain concerned and want to make a complaint about the school’s SEN Support please follow the school’s Complaint procedure.
