Special Educational Needs
At The Staffordshire Schools Multi Academy Trust Primary Schools, we are committed to offering an inclusive curriculum to ensure the best possible progress for all of our pupils whatever their needs or abilities.
This page is a statement of the aims, principles and strategies for provision for children with Special Educational Needs in The Staffordshire Schools Multi Academy Trust.
If you have concerns about any area of your child’s learning or social skills, please speak with your child’s class teacher in the first instance. Our SENCO, Mrs Emma Bowring, is also on hand to discuss any learning needs and strategies with you, by appointment through the school office.
Our SEN policy and information report aims to:
- Set out how our MAT will support and make provision for pupils with special educational needs (SEN)
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in providing for pupils with SEN
Broad Aims
- To give each child access to a broadly balanced National Curriculum at the appropriate level.
- To maximise the potential for learning of all children; this may require positive discrimination in favour of some pupils. Work may need to be differentiated in order to ensure a child’s access to the work.
- To provide a stimulating, attractive and practical learning environment to allow pupils to derive maximum benefit from the whole curriculum.
- To match teachers’ expectations of the child, with his/her current level of achievement.
Specific Aims
- To identify Special Educational Needs as early as possible.
- To record information, to inform initial discussion between class teachers, special needs co-ordinator and parents.
- To plan strategies for resolving difficulties.
- To liaise with support agencies as appropriate.
- To inform and involve directors.
The New 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 clicking here.
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
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https://www.staffordshireconnects.info/kb5/staffordshire/directory/home.page
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.
The Staffordshire Schools Multi Academy Trust - 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)
To view the SEN Information Report for our school please see theTSSMAT Policy Area
Useful Websites
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
Parenting Support
Support on a wide range of topics and aspects of parenting.
www.parenting.co.uk/
