SEN

How we support learning

 

Supporting children with educational and physical needs

 

At GEMS Twickenham Primary Academy we recognise that all children have a right to a broad, balanced relevant and differentiated curriculum.  We aim to create a happy, educationally exciting and positive environment in which all pupils can develop to their full potential.  We recognise that children are individuals, that each one has needs special to him or her.

 

We aim to:

 

• Ensure that our curriculum is responsive to all children whatever their individual need
• Promote positive attitudes and individual confidence
• Ensure all children experience success
• Identify, assess, record and regularly review pupils' special educational needs
• Encourage parents/guardians to be involved in planning and supporting at all stages of their child's development
• Make effective use of support services

 

We adopt a whole school approach to special educational needs. No pupil will be refused admission to school on the basis of his or her special educational need although we will be clear about what the school can provide in its start-up phase. We will not discriminate against disabled children and we will take all reasonable steps to provide effective educational provision. All staff work to ensure inclusion of all pupils and to ensure that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities can fulfill their potential and achieve optimal educational outcomes. All areas of school life are inclusive and the teaching is tailored towards individual learning providing challenge and support; encouraging everyone to reach their full potential. Staff provide a positive ethos to enable the children to work towards the development of life skills and instill life-long learning aspirations for everyone through a range of activities which are fun and enjoyable.

We have a register of our SEND pupils and each pupil has an individual educational plan (IEP) to identify areas for development, provision that is in place, targets and action points. The IEPs are drawn up by our SENCO with input from the class teacher, parents and the pupil if appropriate. Our SENCO works closely with the Principal to implement early intervention strategies. These range from differentiated activities to support in and outside the classroom. We have strong links with our Local Authority Educational Psychology and Mental and Emotional Welfare services. They provide training for staff, workshops for pupils and some support for individual pupils.

Our admissions policy for children with SEND

 

If there are more applications received than there are places, any children for whom the school is named in a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education Health & Care Plan will take priority over other applicants when being offered a place.

 

Information and Guidance - Points of contact

 

Who should I contact to discuss concerns or needs of my child?

 

Our SENCO

 

Our SENCO is Miss Kizzie Elliott

GEMS Twickenham Primary Academy, 57 Colne Road,  Twickenham, TW2 6QF

Ph: +44 (0) 203 019 6196  Email: k.elliott@gemstwickenhamprimary.co.uk

Assessment, planning and review/ Partnerships for Progress

How does the school know how well my child is doing?

How will I be kept informed about how well my child is doing? 

How regularly will I be updated on my child's progress?

Will I know if my child is not making progress and what will happen?

 

• Targets are set in reading, writing and maths for each pupil which are monitored termly.
• Class teachers attend a pupil progress meeting each term with the Principal to discuss the progress of each pupil. The rates of progress are monitored and those pupils not making the expected progress are identified.
• Strategies will be put in place in order for the identified pupils to reach their expected outcomes. Ongoing teacher assessment strategies are used to determine progress and attainment.
• Regular review meetings are held with the class teacher and Principal to track progress towards outcomes and evaluate interventions.
• Diagnostic marking is used in literacy and maths and provides feedback to pupils.
• Parents are invited to 'Learning Reviews' at least twice a year to discuss progress, attainment levels and expected outcomes with the class teacher.
• If your child is on the SEN register you will have additional review meetings with the class teacher and SENCO.
• Children with statements or EHC plans are reviewed termly and a written report is sent to parents.
• An annual report to parents/carers is written by the class teacher which details the achievements, strengths and areas of development in the different curriculum areas.  A settling in report and mid year summary report is also distributed to all parents.
• Additional support may be provided after discussions with key staff, parent/carer, pupils and where relevant, external agencies.
• The school identifies the needs of SEN pupils on a provision map.  This identifies all support given within school and is reviewed regularly with changes made as needed.  In this way the needs of the children are met and resources are deployed as effectively as possible.
•  The school will seek external support for children continuing to experience significant difficulty - this may involve an application for an Education Health and Care Plan assessment.  School staff may informally discuss progress with parents/carers as needed.

 

Curriculum and Teaching Methods (Including groupings and interventions)

 

What is the curriculum and how is it taught? How will the curriculum be adapted to meet the needs of my child? How flexible can teachers be in meeting the needs of my child? Is there any additional support available to help my child reach his/her expected outcomes?

 

• The school will be using the National Curriculum as a basis of our learning.
• Class teachers are responsible for the learning of ALL children in their class and they ensure that all children receive 'quality first teaching' - keeping children working with their peers for the majority of the time.
• Teachers are skilled at adapting and differentiating the curriculum to take account of individual pupil needs.
• Teachers are able to take into account different learning styles and use them to ensure that they meet the needs of all the children in their class.
• First hand experiences through visits are explored when topics are planned.  Grouping arrangements are organised carefully to maximise the learning opportunities for all.
• Additional adults may be used to support groups or individuals, but being on the SEN register does not necessarily mean that your child will be allocated a one to one support as independence must also be fostered.Children may be identified as benefitting from intervention programmes.
• Progress within these programmes is carefully monitored.
• A range of intervention programmes in the areas of literacy, numeracy, language, social, emotional and motor skills are available to support individuals and groups and there are staff trained to deliver them.
• The use of intervention programmes is monitored by assessing their impact.
• Intervention programmes are continually under review.
• Advice from educational agencies such as Educational Psychology, speech, language and communication , behavioural support and health agencies such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and CAMHS may be sought if your child is on the SEN register.

 

Access to learning and the Curriculum

 

Are there any special features or strategies to help children learn? How do I know my child's particular needs will be met?

 

• children are involved in their own learning and are able to feed their opinions into the topics taught.
• Children are made aware of their targets and next steps.
• They receive feedback on progress through discussions with teachers and diagnostic marking.
• Self evaluation is also encouraged.
• Daily phonics lessons are taught using Letters and Sounds.
• Lessons are differentiated where appropriate.
• Learning walls in the classrooms support the learning of literacy and mathematics.  
• ICT is used to support learning, including computer programmes.
• Some classes/ identified pupils may be allocated support staff and have access to guided group work.
• External agencies can provide advice and may offer individual or group tuition depending on a pupil's individual need.
• All classes have a visual timetable ion display which details the daily planned activities.  Some pupils have their own visual timetable.
• The school's physical environment is accessible to all learners including those with disabilities.
• Reasonable adjustments are made to help pupils to learn.  For example, some pupils may use special equipment such as pencil grips, sound amplification systems and sloped writing desks.

 

Children may be identified as benefiting from social skills groups and the use of social stories.

 

Test and Assessments - Access Arrangements

 

What arrangements are available for pupils to access tests and assessments? How will I know if my child qualifies for additional support or time to access tests?

 

• Year 6 pupils may be assessed to determine whether individuals qualify for additional time.
• Some pupils for statutory tests (Year 2 and 6) access them in a smaller environment and support for reading of tests or writing for pupils may be requested as appropriate and to comply with test guidelines.
• The school adheres to current access arrangements for Key Stage 1 and 2 Statutory tests.
• Class teachers will inform parents/carers whether their child qualifies for additional support or time to access tests.
• Booster and target groups are run throughout the school year.

 

Social and Emotional support

 

How does the school help my child to feel comfortable and safe and manage social situations? How does the school help develop my child's social and emotional skills? What is the school's policy on bullying?

 

• All classes follow a structured PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economical education)
• Teachers identify children who would benefit from small group interventions to develop their social and emotional skills.
• Behaviour support strategies developed with teachers, teaching assistants and the Principal help children to manage their behaviour.
• Home/school liaison 
• Strong ethos of pastoral care
• Anti bullying policy and procedures
• Transition preparation

 

Accessibility to Premises and Facilities

 

What facilities are in the school to assist children with disabilities move around the building and take part in all lessons? How do I know my child will be able to access all lessons?

 

• The building and play areas are accessible to wheelchair users.
• Disabled toilet
• Awareness of sensory issues
• Reasonable adjustments are made by staff to ensure children with disabilities can access all lessons.
• Trips will be planned taking into account the needs of children with disabilities.
• transition preparation

 

Working with others 

 

Who does the school work with? How does the school work with other agencies? How will I be informed?

 

TPA works with a number of services including:

 

• Educational psychology services
• Learning Support Service 
• Sensory Impairment Service
• Speech language and communication needs service
• Speech and Language Service
• SEN Team Parent Partnership
• Occupational Therapy
• School Nurse
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
• The SENCO liaises with class teachers, leadership team and parents to prioritise referrals to these services.
• Referrals to services may also come about following pupil review meetings.  This will be discussed with parents/carers.
• Parents views will be sought and they may be invited or can request to meet with the service.
• Reports and recommendations are shared with parents and expected outcomes and strategies to meet those outcomes are planned.

 

Local Offer

 

The Local Offer is a website that provides information on local services and support available for families including children and young people aged 0 - 25 years with special educational needs or disabilities.

 

Local Offer website www.afclocaloffer.org.uk

 

Email address for enquiries and feedback: sendlocaloffer@achievingforchildren.org.uk

Phone number for enquiries: 020 8547 4722

 

Other Organisations

 

Parent carer forums are local groups of parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities who work alongside local authorities, education, health and other service providers to ensure the services they plan, commission, deliver and monitor meet the needs of children and families. They also offer support and advice to families from a parent point of view.

 

SEND Family Voices (SFV) provides this service for Kingston and Richmond.

Phone: 07469 746145

Email: SENDFamilyVoices@outlook.com

Website: www.sendfamilyvoices.org

 

Independent Supporters

 

Independent Supporters can work with you and your child to ensure that your voices are heard. They offer a free, friendly, flexible service for families and young people. They offer support when: 

 

• you have applied for an education, health and care plan (EHCP) for your child

• your child has a statement that is transferring to an EHCP. 

  They aim to do this by:

• supporting you to understand the legal framework underpinning the changes in SEN

• helping you think through and identify what the changes mean for you

• attending or supporting you at meetings with the local authority or school

  The local organisations that provide this service are:

 

Independent Support Partnership

Phone: 020 8831 6076

Email: independent.support@richmondaid.org.uk

Website: www.raid.org.uk

 

KIDS Richmond and Kingston SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Phone: 020 8831 6179

Email: mailto:richmondkingston@kids.org.uk

Website: www.kids.org.uk

 

In addition to independent support, the Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers advice across a wide range of subjects. This may include help with personal budgets and how to use the Local Offer plus:

 

• support with understanding reports and letters, attending meetings and preparing for assessments and reviews

• information and signposting to support services in your area

• support with transition and preparing for adulthood

• support with and signposting to mediation

• advice and support on benefits

 

Transition

How will the school help my child settle with confidence and manage change as they move between schools and year groups.

 

Early years Transition

 

• The class teacher generally attends transition meetings for pupils with SEN making the transition from Pre School to nursery or reception easier.
• Class teacher visits child in setting or home.
• Parents are invited to a pre-admission meeting.

 

Moving on at Year 6

 

• Key staff and often some year 7 students from the secondary school will visit DPA and speak to the year 6 pupils transferring to their school.
• All pupils in Year 6 are invited to a familiarisation at their secondary school.
• Children are prepared for the visit and given information in advance as necessary.
• Additional visits to the secondary school may be arranged for individuals or groups as needed.
• Transition arrangements are planned at Year 6 statement/ Education, Health and Care Plan reviews.
• Secondary schools are invited to attend.
• SENCO attends Year 6 to Year 7 SEN transfer meeting.
• Information transferred in advance of move.

 

Moving schools

 

If your child is moving to another school we will:

 

• contact the school SENCo and ensure that he/she knows about any special arrangements or support that need to be made for your child.
• Make sure all records for your child are passed on as soon as possible.

 

If your child joins us from another school we will:

 

• Contact the school SENCo to find out about any special arrangements or support that needs to be made for your child.
• Meet with parents to discuss any concerns and plan any support

 

Moving classes

 

• Transition visits to new classes are planned in the second half of the summer term.
• Identified pupils may have a number of additional visits to the new class.
• Meet the teacher meetings take place in the summer term which give parents a chance to find out about arrangements for such things as homework, topics and general expectations. 

 

EAL

Children who are learning English as an additional language (EAL) have skills and knowledge similar to those of monolingual English-speaking children. Their ability to participate in the full curriculum may well be in advance of their communicative skills in English. The school is committed to making appropriate provision of teaching and resources for pupils for whom English is an additional language, and for raising the achievement of ethnic minority pupils who are at risk of underachievement. The school will identify individual pupils’ needs, recognise the skills they bring to the school and ensure equality of access to the curriculum. Each EAL pupil has an individual learning plan (ILP) to identify areas for development, provision that is in place, targets and action points. The ILPs are drawn up by our SENCO with input from the class teacher, parents and the pupil if appropriate. Initially support will focus on the extension of vocabulary to facilitate access to all areas of the curriculum. Support tends to be within the classroom, especially in reception and Key Stage One but pupils may be withdrawn when more intensive support is required.

GIFTED AND TALENTED

 

At Twickenham Primary Academy we recognise and provide for pupils who require additional challenge and pace to their work because they are either gifted or talented. We tailor education to individual need, interest and aptitude to ensure that every pupil achieves and reaches the highest standards possible. We use a RED (Recognise, Encourage and Develop) approach which is embedded across the curriculum at all levels. A register of these pupils is kept updated by our SENCO. We may have many pupils who are recognised as being ‘able’ due to their advantageous experiences and home tutoring. This does not necessarily reflect their innate ability and these children would not be included within the school’s register. Each pupil has an individual learning plan (ILP) to identify areas for development, provision that is in place, targets and action points. The ILPs are drawn up by our SENCO with input from the class teacher, parents and the pupil if appropriate. RED boxes of activities are located in each classroom to provide challenge and key stage two pupils receive an invitation to join a weekly club to extend them in their area of gift or talent.