SEND
Our SENDCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) is Mrs K Phillips.
Please contact the school office if you wish to speak to the SENDCo about your child's individual needs.
office@thomasbarnes.staffs.sch.uk
01827 213840
At Thomas Barnes Primary School we are committed to offering an inclusive curriculum to ensure the best possible progress for all of our pupils whatever their needs or abilities.
What are Special Educational Needs?
Under the new Code of Practice, a child is deemed to have Special Educational Needs, or SEN, if he or she has ‘significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age’, or his or her disability ‘prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in a mainstream school’. Special educational provision is needed for him or her, over and above that which can be met through good quality classroom teaching and differentiation.
Broad areas of need are identified as communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, emotional and mental health difficulties and sensory and/or physical needs. They may be for a short period or throughout a child’s educational life. They may be identified before a child has even entered school or they may come to be recognised at a specific point in their education.
Specific objectives of our SEN policy
- To identify pupils’ special educational needs as early as possible.
- To plan an effective curriculum in order to meet the special educational needs of each pupil.
- To assess and monitor progress.
- To work in partnership with parents of pupils with special educational needs.
- To involve parents and pupils in the identification and review of targets set out in their Assess, Plan, Do and Review document.
- To ensure that all staff are aware of the procedures for identifying, monitoring, teaching and supporting pupils with special educational needs
Within school there are a variety of different interventions used to support our pupils. The range of support made in the school is “needs lead” and therefore varies each year in response to identified needs.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice
In September 2014 the government published a new SEND Code of Practice, which sets out statutory guidance for schools. This can be downloaded by following the link below.
The new Code of Practice covers the 0-25 age range. There is greater emphasis on children and parents being part of the decision-making process. The categories of School Action and School Action Plus are replaced with one category of SEN. Statements are being replaced with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs).
Local Authorities must publish the ‘Local Offer’, which sets out the full range of provision for children with SEN and disabilities. The Staffordshire Local Offer can be found by clicking below.
https://www.staffordshireconnects.info/kb5/staffordshire/directory/home.page
Thomas Barnes Primary School - SEN Information Report
The revised SEN Code of Practice (DfE, April 2014) states: 'The governing bodies of maintained schools and maintained nursery schools and the proprietors of academy schools must publish information on their websites about the implementation of the governing body’s or the proprietor’s policy for pupils with SEN.' (p93)
Click below to view the SEN Information Report for our school.
Useful websites for parents and carers of children with SEND
Dyslexia
British Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia Action is a national charity and the UK's leading provider of services and support for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties.
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
Dyslexia Action
Dyslexia Action is a national charity and the UK's leading provider of services and support for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties.
http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/
Parent Champions
Understanding Dyslexia – a useful guide for parents and families.
http://www.parentchampions.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/UnderstandingDyslexia.pdf
Dyslexia Assist
A list of useful website to support parents and families.
https://www.dyslexia-assist.org.uk/links/
Autism
National Autistic Society
A wealth of information on Autism.
www.autism.org.uk/
Autism West Midlands
The leading charity in the West Midlands for people with autism.
http://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/
Reduce the Noise
Strategies to help reduce sensory overload.
https://www.retailmenot.com/blog/sensory-overload-while-shopping.html
Speech and Language
Talking Point
Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need.
www.talkingpoint.org.uk/
Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia Foundation
Offers information and supports individual and families affected by developmental dyspraxia.
https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/
ADHD
ADHD Foundation
The ADHD Foundation works in partnership with individuals, families, doctors, teachers and other agencies to improving emotional well being, educational attainment, behaviour and life chances through better understanding and self management of ADHD, ASD and related learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, Irlen’s Syndrome, dyscalculia and Tourette’s Syndrome.
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Young Minds
A national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children, advice about depression, eating disorders, and other mental health issues affecting children, see website for details.
www.youngminds.org.uk
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
A comprehensive source of information for young people, parents and professionals about the range of mental health difficulties and disorders that may be encountered during childhood and adolescence.
www.camh.org.uk/
Healthy Lifestyles
Would you or your family like to be healthier and happier? Would you like loads of ideas, recipes and games to help you do this? Then you already know why you should join Change4Life.
Change 4 Life