SEND Information Report
SEND Information Report ~ What does Hall Green I & N School provide for pupils with SEND? Our Policy for Pupils with SEND (This report is updated at least annually, and was last updated in October 2018)
The School SENDCo (Inclusion Leader) is Mrs P. B. Read-Law. She can be contacted either via the school office on 0121 464 3082 or by email p.read-law@hallgreen-inf.bham.sch.uk
For more information about the SENCo role see our page about the Inclusion Team https://www.hallgreeninfant.co.uk/the-inclusion-team/
This report complies with section 69(2) of the Children and Families Act 2014.
- Our arrangements for the admission of disabled pupils: Pupils who are 'looked after' LAC take priority. Children with EHCPs take second priority. Their admission is dealt with by SENAR and happens separately to the admission of other pupils (siblings, catchment etc)
- We do not tolerate any pupils being treated less favourably than others. Central to "Our Aspirations" is that we "respect and celebrate differences". We teach the children about this aspiration and take opportunities throughout the curriculum to model this behaviour. We believe that all children are on a journey to learning the appropriate way to behave and it is our job to help them learn the social skills to be a kind and compassionate member of society. Any incidences of treating disabled pupils less favourably than others would not be tolerated and the opportunity would be used to educate the child in inclusion and acceptance. If you ever have any concerns about the way in which your child is being treated please see the class teacher in the first instance. As with any issues of complaints if you are not happy that the situation has been resolved by speaking to the class teacher please feel free to contact the Inclusion Leader (SENDCo) Mrs Read-Law, the head teacher, Mrs Wood, or the Chair of Governors, Mr Connolly.
- We regularly reflect on how the facilities we provide to help disabled pupils to access the school. For example, in 2016 (as targeted on our accessibility plan) a new medical room was created in the main school building. We involve outside agencies in considering what we provide for pupils with disabilities. These include accessibility walks with the Educational Psychology Service of the whole school looking at areas of development (see accessibility plan). To ensure individual pupil's needs are met the Inclusion Leader involves specific outside agencies to advise on any adaptations required. For example, as part of planning for effective transition for pupils new to the school in Autumn 2018 the Inclusion Leader consulted with the Educational Psychology Service (EPS), Physical Difficulties Support Service (PDSS), Hearing Support Team (HST), Communication and Autism Team (CAT) and Visual Support Team (VST). Meetings included looking at specific classrooms as well as communal areas such as toilets / dinner hall / playground. Guidance from outside agencies is then put into practice either by the Inclusion Leader liaising with the site manager (e.g. changing taps / painting steps to highlight a contrast) or by sourcing additional equipment from PDSS or the physiotherapy service. Our site does have limitations, for example the Year One Annexe is a grade 2 listed building. But we are always striving to make improvements and increase accessibility wherever possible.
- We have prepared an accessibility plan in compliance with paragraph 3 of schedule 10 to the Equality Act 2010. This can be found on our main SEND page https://www.hallgreeninfant.co.uk/send/ This is a 3 year plan and is due for review in 2019.
- Procedure for handling complaints: In the first instance please speak to your child's class teacher. If you do not feel happy that a satisfactory resolution has been reached then please see Mrs Read-Law (for things relating to SEND), or the AHT/Leader for the year group. If you would like to discuss your concerns further please speak to the school office to arrange a meeting with Mrs Wood (Head Teacher) or Mr Connolly (Chair of Governors). If you still have concerns please follow our complaints procedure available on our school website on our policies page https://www.hallgreeninfant.co.uk/policies/
Kathy, mother of a year two pupil.
The Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) 0-25 Code of Practice was published in June 2014 by the Department for Education and was implemented from September 2014.
The code gives guidance to early education settings, schools, Post 16 providers, local authorities and anybody else who helps to identify, assess and provide help for children and young people with special educational needs. It sets out the processes and procedures that all these organisations should follow to meet the needs of children and young people, using a step-by-step or 'graduated approach' and was implemented from September 2014.
Children with SEND work closely with the SENDCo and outside agencies. Hall Green I & N School is committed to supporting children & young people with SEND and works alongside professionals at "Access to Education A2E" to ensure best outcomes for this group.
Please see http://accesstoeducation.birmingham.gov.uk
More information on the SEND Code of Practice can be found on the Birmingham Local Offer Website below:
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50034/birminghams_local_offer_send
Hall Green I & N School OfSTED report 2013
- We always encourage independence & enjoyment
- Pupil participation is central to what we do
- Class based staff are offered ideas, support & advice to ensure high quality teaching* (*meeting children’s needs by adapting planning & provision in class so that SEND provision is driven by the teacher all day every day).
- Build on each child’s strengths to help them access the things they find tricky
- Outstanding inclusive practice benefits all children
- Children not on the SEND Code of Practice develop understanding, empathy and higher level skills involved in supporting their peers & sharing their knowledge.
- Celebrate successes, however small they may seem to some
- Interventions are adapted and personalised to meet each child’s needs
- Evolving practice responds to children’s changing needs and the progress they make.
- Parents / Carers involvement is highly valued.
- At Hall Green I & N School we are a committed, experienced & creative team who want to see the children succeed.
- The Inclusion team is here to support the child, their family and the classroom staff.
- We prioritise well-being.
- Learning is multi-sensory & hands-on.
“Parent Partnership isn’t just a phrase that’s bandied around. It really means something at Hall Green Infant & Nursery School. There’s a common goal of happiness and progress for the SEND pupils.”
Parent of pupil who is on the SEND Code of Practice
“I would recommend this school to other parents”
Parent of Reception pupil with SEND .
It sometimes becomes clear during a child’s time at school that extra support is needed so that the child can take part in every aspect of the national curriculum. Teachers and parents / carers are important in identifying these needs. All teachers will take into consideration the varying abilities in any class and use suitable materials and methods for the range of abilities within lessons (Known as ‘quality first teaching’). We will work with you if your child has been identified as having a special need and discuss with you the kind of support the school can offer.
There is a graduated approach to additional needs as described in the SEND Code of Practice (2014). We use a person-centred approach in our graduated response to SEND. Below is a picture created by Annabel Evans (Pupil & School Support) to show how this process works. Many thanks to Annabel for giving us permission to use her art work.
(Artwork courtesy of Annabel Evans, PSS)
Levels of Support offered as part of the graduated response:
SEND Support is used to describe a child who will need provision which is additional to or different from what is available to all, in order to make progress.
The first stage of SEND Support is 'targeted support' . When this happens the child is provided with interventions & strategies by the class teacher that is additional to or different from those provided by the usual differentiated curriculum. Information is collected from the class teacher, specialist teacher (SENDCo), parent/carer and any other professional working with the child.
Sometimes 'specialist support' will be necessary. Professionals from external agencies will see the child, so that they can advise teachers on fresh targets and accompanying strategies, provide more specialist assessments that can inform planning and the measuring of progress.
The Education Health Care Plan replaces the old "Statement of Provision" and any pupil on a Statement of Provision will have been transferred to an Education Health Care Plan by April 2018.
Provision Plan (PP) & Education Health Care Plan (EHCP)
Some children have greater and more specific needs for extra help and these may be given either a Provision Plan or an Education Health Care Plan which sets out the kind of help needed. A “Provision Plan” is a document used by Birmingham Local Authority and is not a legally binding document; this could be described as between "SEND Support" and an "Educational Health Care Plan".
An Education Health Care Plan is a legally binding document (so if a child moves to a different local authority the provision stipulated in it goes with them). Again, parents/carers are always fully involved at every stage if it is thought that an EHCP is necessary and would be beneficial to the child.
Children who are working at a level significantly above that of a child of a similar age may also be described as having Special Educational Needs (“More Able Child” ~ working roughly a year ahead of age related expectations or “Gifted & Talented” ~ working roughly two years ahead of age related expectations or having a special talent e.g. creative/physical ability).
We believe that it is vitally important that all children achieve their full potential and that we all work as a team to ensure this happens. As with children on the SEND Code of Practice, provision for more able children is driven by the class teacher(s). Through the provision of a range of strategies and a properly differentiated curriculum the needs of all children, including the most able, are addressed.
“Parents / Carers involvement is highly valued”
Parent of Nursery pupil with SEND.
- Pre-tutoring Group (preparing children for new topics / vocabulary being used in the week ahead)
- Fine Motor Group (small movements with our hands)
- Gross Motor Group (large movements using our body e.g. climbing, running)
- Speech and Language Support
- Fun Friends (learning strategies to help us socially and when we find things tricky)
- Social Interaction Group (getting on with others and showing appropriate behaviours in class and in the playground)
- Lunchtime Support (children who need a bit of help getting used to the rules and routines in the dinner hall)
- Phonic Groups (support with learning to read and write fluently)
- Not all groups can run all of the time but happen according to the needs within the school. In addition to group support, the Inclusion team can support individual children within class, working on their identified targets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does my child have to have and Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) to receive extra support?
No. All children on the special educational needs code of practice receive support that is personalised for them. This may be mainly focused in class and the adaptations the class teacher makes for them (known as quality first teaching), but may also include other support, such as being part of an intervention group or involvement from outside agencies.
What is an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) or statement of special educational needs?
Both are legal documents for pupils with a high level of need. ‘EHCPs’ replaced ‘statements’ when the new SEND Code of Practice became law in September 2014. They document what a child’s needs are, what provision is required for him/her and outcomes are being targeted. If you would like more information about what is in an EHCP or when one would be requested for a pupil, please see the Inclusion Leader.
Who do I see if I’m worried about my child’s learning and/or development?
The class teacher is the first person to speak to about any concerns you may have. The teacher can then speak to the Inclusion Leader to either seek some guidance or arrange a meeting for the parents / carers to discuss their concerns with the Inclusion Leader directly.
I’m worried about my child moving to a new school. What happens to help them?
For transitions at the end of the academic year e.g. moving up to a junior school, the Inclusion team has a focus on transition support in the Summer Term. Extra time is spent with specific children to help prepare them for the changes, additional visits to new settings can be arranged and personalised transition books can be made for the children to use during the summer holidays with their families.
Similar strategies are used if a child changes setting part way through an academic year, so the more notice we can be given if a move is going to take place the more time we can spend helping your child cope with the transition.
Smooth transition to our school is also very important to us, so if your child has any additional needs and gets allocated a place at our school please inform us as soon as possible. That way, we can liaise with you and any previous settings as well as arranging additional visits and/or transition books.
As a parent of a SEND child I’m feeling alone. Can you help?
Yes.
We have coffee mornings for parents of children on the SEND code of practice. Come along and meet other parents who may have experience of what you are going through. Our Inclusion Leader will also be present to offer a friendly ear and offer suggestions as well as signposting other avenues of support.
Please see the SEND information for parents/carers section for details of the next meeting.
There are also termly SEND review meetings and parents evenings. If at any point in the school year you would like to speak to the class teacher about concerns you may have, teachers are happy to arrange a time to talk to you.
My child has SEND, can they take part in an after school club?
Yes.
All pupils have equal access to after school clubs. We may need to take extra steps to support a pupil’s participation in a club, so when you complete a form to request a place for your child you can highlight your child’s needs and the office staff with involve the Inclusion Leader.
For further details about after school clubs please speak to the school office.
“This meeting has been great! We feel really involved.”
Parent at SEND information report consultation meeting
This page is part of the Local Offer for Birmingham. Under the Children and Families Bill which became law in 2014, Local Authorities are required to publish, and keep under review, information about services that they expect to be available for children and young people with disabilities and Special Needs aged
0-25. This is called the Local Offer. The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice and transparency for families. It will be an important resource for professionals in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.
A big thank you to the group of parents who gave up their time to contribute to our school’s SEND information report. Your comments, ideas and suggestions are much appreciated. Mrs P. Read-Law (Inclusion Leader)