At Kingsfield Primary school, our aim is to ensure all children are supported in order that they may work confidently towards reaching their full potential. We strongly believe in the role of Quality First Teaching and curriculum entitlement for all children, regardless of their ability or background. We intend to identify needs swiftly, remove barriers to learning and raise levels of progress and achievement. Working in partnership with families and a range of external agencies is key to achieving this.
Our SEND coordinator is Miss I. Rourke, she can be contacted on 01782 973835 or by email at office.reg@cflptrust.co.uk
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
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:
- Have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age;
- Or have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools.
Definition taken from the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice: for 0-25 years (2014).
What are the SEND Areas of Need?
The 2014 SEND Code of Practice (reviewed January 2015) outlines four broad areas of special educational need that include a range of difficulties and conditions:
- Communication and Interaction Needs
- Cognition and Learning Difficulties
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs
- Sensory and/or Physical Needs
But while many children and young people have difficulties that fit clearly into one of these areas; some have needs that span two or more areas; for others the precise nature of their need may not be clear at the outset. Please see the details listed on the diagram below to identify which special needs are listed under which broad area of need.
Inclusion
At Castlechurch Primary School we believe that all children have the right to be included in all aspects of school life. As such we strive to enrich the lives of the children in our school by promoting and celebrating community cohesion as well as valuing the individual. We tailor our curriculum to encourage life long learning, real life skills and equality for all learners. As such the school is recognised as being a Flagship School for Inclusion.
Special Educational Needs & Disability
Children with a physical or sensory impairment may experience visual or hearing difficulties, multi-sensory impairments or a physical disability. At Kingsfield, we work with a range of agencies including Occupational Therapy, the Hearing Impairment Specialist Support Team and the School Nursing Service to support pupils with these specific needs. Reasonable adjustments in the classroom may include:
- Writing slopes
- Pencil grips
- Ipads/Laptops
- Medical care plans
- Specialist equipment such as radio-aids
- Motor interventions
- Additional rest breaks
You may find the following websites useful if you have concerns regarding a sensory or physical need in your child:
Hearing Impairment
Information and support | National Deaf Children’s Society (ndcs.org.uk)
Staffordshire Connects | Deaf/Hearing Inclusion Team
Hearing loss – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Vision Impairment
Staffordshire Connects | Vision Inclusion Team
VICTA | Children and young adults who are blind or partially sighted
Blindness and vision loss – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Physical Difficulties
Support groups for parents | Disability charity Scope UK
Help if you have a disabled child: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
How to care for children with complex needs – Social care and support guide – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Acceptance – Tips for Parents of Child| CerebralPalsy.orgCerebralPalsy.org
Living With Spina Bifida (Infants) | CDC
Dyspraxia
Developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
SEND Reform
The Children and Families Bill has now become an act of parliament and can be seen here:
The act became statutory from September 2014 giving some of the biggest changes to Special Educational Needs for many years.
Staffordshire County Council- Special educational needs (SEND) | Staffordshire County Council
For further information please contact Miss Rourke in school or you may wish to follow the links below:
A summary of the main provision set out in the bill. Department for Education – GOV.UK
Ipsea offer free legal advice to parents regarding local authority commitment to SEN – they have some useful articles relating to the proposed changes (IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
