1. What does having a special educational need mean?
The Code of Practice (2014) states that:
A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they:
or
2. Who is the person responsible for children and young people with SEND at Conyers School?
The SENDCO at Conyers School is Mrs Pack who will monitor, co-ordinate and evaluate provision for these students. She can be contacted at cpack@conyers.org.uk.
The SENDCO has day-to-day responsibility for the operation of the SEND policy and co-ordination of specific provision made to support individual students with SEND and medical conditions, including those who have a EHC plans. They also provide professional guidance to colleagues and will work closely with staff, parents/carers and other agencies. In addition they will:
Deputy Headteacher John Downs
Responsible for
The Headteacher Louise Spellman
Responsible for
The day to day management of all aspects of the school, this includes the support for students with SEND.
SEN Governor: Mrs F. Johnson
Ensuring that statutory provision is made for children with SEND at Conyers School.
3. At Conyers School progress of all young people including those with SEND is the responsibility of:
The Subject Teacher: by providing excellent teaching and differentiation for all students, including those with SEND.
They will as part of this provision also:
Some SEND students may require additional support for emotional and social development. Extra pastoral support can be offered by Form tutor, Pastoral Manager, School counsellor and Learning Support Team.
4. How does the school identify that a child has a special educational need?
5. Once needs are identified, a graduated response to supporting the student’s need will be initiated.
It is the responsibility of all staff to liaise with the SENDCO should they have any concerns that a student may have unidentified SEND.
6. Who are the best people to talk to in this school if I think my child might have a special educational need?
At this school we operate a graduated approach to student need. The vast majority of concerns can be dealt with by the Form Tutor who at Conyers is the first point of contact. If the concern persists the Form Tutor will signpost you to the most appropriate person to support you. Within school this maybe the student’s Pastoral Manager or the appropriate Head of Department, depending upon whether it is a pastoral or academic concern. If there are still concerns that needs are not being met or that progress is not being made, then any teacher can make a referral to the Learning Support Team and seek guidance from the SENDCO.
Specialist Individual support
This is usually provided via an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This means your child will have been identified by the LA as needing a particularly high level of individual or small group teaching which cannot be provided from the budget available to the school alone.
Usually your child will also need support in school from a professional from outside the school. This may be from:
For your child this would mean:
This type of support is available for children whose learning needs are:
Severe, complex and lifelong.
7. What training or specialist expertise do our staff have around SEN?
The School places great value in the professional development of all staff. All staff receive a comprehensive induction to working at the School and SEND training is part of this staff development.
The SENDCO works closely with Senior Leadership to ensure that a range of training opportunities are available to both teaching and support staff throughout the year. This training is adapted to ensure that it addresses the needs of current students. The school has ensured that staff are trained in providing support for pupils with Dyslexia and Autism, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and the emotional well being of students is regarded at all times. The SENDCO has achieved an accreditation in working with students with specific learning difficulties and is an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association.
8. What further external support can school access to support children with SEN and their families?
Educational Psychologist
CAMHS
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Counsellor
Visually Impaired Advisory Service, Hearing Impaired Advisory Service
Youth Offending Team
School Health
Family Matters
In addition
The Stockton Parent Partnership is an independent and impartial organisation who can support parents/carers with Statutory Assessments, preparing for and attending meetings and accompanying them on school visits. They are also able to support parents/carers to reach agreement when issues are faced at school. They can be contacted on 01642 527158.
The Education Health Assessment (EHA) is a multi-agency approach which is used to support those families who are facing challenges, they can be contacted on 01642 526123.
9. How are parents/ carers and children with SEND supported to share their views and concerns and work alongside the school?
Conyers School recognises the need for parents/carers to be fully aware of their child’s progress and parents/carers are:
10. Who is the person I should talk to if I have a concern about the support being provided for my child at the school? How can I share my concerns or make a complaint?
11. Where can I find information about the Local Authority’s Local Offer for children and young people with SEND and their families?
The Local Authority’s Offer for children and young people with SEND and their families is accessible through their website.
12. How does the school support children with SEND and their families when they join or leave the school?
We recognise that transitions can be difficult for a young person with SEND and take steps to ensure that any transition is as smooth as possible. We will liaise with feeder and local schools to offer additional meetings, visits and preparation for children who find transition more difficult. We will enlist the support of external agencies, particularly Youth Direction to aid future planning at transition into post 16 and post 18 options.
13. Complaints procedure
In the first instance any complaint about the SEND provision within the school should be addressed to Mrs Claire Pack, SENDCO who will then consider this complaint and, if the matter cannot be dealt with satisfactorily, she will call upon the assistance of the Deputy Headteacher, Mr John Downs. If not resolvable at this level then the issue will be referred to the Executive Team.
Claire Pack
SENDCO
Updated: September 2019