WELCOME TO SEND

(Special Educational Needs and Disability)

We work extremely hard to ensure all our students achieve their educational potential and employ a dedicated team of specialists to look after the needs of the children in our care.

Through close working relationships with our feeder primary schools and the staff at Harper Green School, children who have learning problems are identified early in their school careers. To support this, we have a dedicated Special Needs team who, under the guidance of experienced specialists, provide extra help for our students who display difficulties accessing the curriculum.

Students may be withdrawn from lessons to receive additional support individually or in small groups, or they may receive additional support in the subject lessons by our team of Teaching Assistants.

We aim to allow as many students as possible to access the complete National Curriculum by providing appropriate support where needed. All courses and groupings are constructed to enable students to be correctly challenged in their learning regarding the equally important needs of all children, from the most gifted to those who experience learning difficulties.

A student could have a learning difficulty or disability if they have:

A significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or;
A disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools.

SENCO Contact Information

If you think your child has a Special Educational Need or Disability, please contact the school and make an appointment with Mrs Z Mulvey (SENCO), to discuss your concerns.

Mrs Z Mulvey (SENCO)

Email: mulveyz@harpergreen.net

Telephone: 01204 572941

Your concerns can also be expressed to your child’s Pastoral Year Team, who will pass the details onto the SENCO.

The Learning Hub

To enable students with SEND to achieve their potential and be fully included in the life and community of the school, we have a dedicated Learning Hub which provides support and intervention to accelerate the progress of students through one to one support, small group or individual intervention and/or specialist teaching.

The Learning Hub provides tailored intervention packages, where appropriate, to support students who have been identified as having an SEND or in need of additional support with mental health. The aim of these interventions is to provide support in removing the barriers that prevent these students from attending lessons or accessing the curriculum appropriately alongside their peers.

Our school currently provides additional and/or different provisions for a range of needs, including:

Communication and Interaction
Cognition and Learning
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties

Further information about our approach to SEND

What are the aims and objectives of the SEND provision at Harper Green School?

This policy and information report is based on the statutory Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice and Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014, which sets out schools' responsibilities for pupils with SEND.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 set out schools' responsibilities for education, health and care (EHC) plans, SEND coordinators (SENCOs), and the SEND information report.

To work within the guidance provided in the SEND Code of Practice 2015
To provide a SENCo who will work with the SEND Inclusion Policy
To create a welcoming and safe educational environment that meets the needs of all of our young people
To ensure that all young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities are identified and assessed early, then catered for within the school setting as far as possible
To ensure that all students with special educational needs and/or disabilities make the best possible progress
To support students with SEND in accessing all areas of school life, encompassing the entire curriculum, as well as extracurricular and social opportunities
To empower our young people as they grow in their self-belief and self-esteem, recognising their individual needs as simply one aspect of everything that makes them uniquely remarkable
To promote effective working partnerships with parents/carers, students and outside agencies through excellent information-sharing and working together throughout

Which staff have responsibility for students with SENDs?

All staff have a responsibility to the young people in our care. However, some key staff have extra responsibility for students with SENDs. These are:

The SENCO

The SENCO is Mrs Emma Price. Emma can be contacted by email at price@harpergreen.net. Alternatively, please call 01204 572941.

If you have any concerns or queries about your child's SENDs, you should communicate with Mrs Price in the first instance.

The role of the SENCO is to:

Work with the headteacher and SEND governor to determine the strategic development of the SEN policy and provision in the school;
Have day-to-day responsibility for the operation of the SEND policy and the co-ordination of specific provisions made to support individual pupils with SEND, including those who have EHC plans;
Provide professional guidance to colleagues and work with staff, parents, and other agencies to ensure that pupils with SEND receive appropriate support and high-quality teaching;
Advise on the graduated approach to providing SEND support;
Advise on the deployment of the school's delegated budget and other resources to meet pupils' needs effectively;
Be the point of contact for external agencies, especially the local authority and its support services;
Liaise with potential next providers of education to ensure students and their parents are informed about options and a smooth transition is planned;
Work with the headteacher and governing board to ensure that the school meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 concerning reasonable adjustments and access arrangements;
Ensure the school keeps the records of all students with SEND up to date.

The SEND Governor

The SEND Governor can be contacted through the school.

The role of the SEND Governor is to:

Help to raise awareness of SEND issues at governing board meetings
Monitor the quality and effectiveness of SEN and disability provision within the school and update the governing board on this
Work with the Head of School and SENCO to determine the strategic development of the SEND policy and provision in the school

The Head of School

The Head of School is Ms S Heppenstall. Her role is to:

Work with the SENCO and SEND governor to determine the strategic development of the SEND policy and provision in the school;
Have overall responsibility for the provision and progress of learners with SEN and/or a disability.

Class teachers

Each class teacher is responsible for:

The progress and development of every student in their class
Working closely with any teaching assistants or specialist staff to plan and assess the impact of support and interventions and how they can be linked to classroom teaching
Working with the SENCO to review each student's progress and development and decide on any changes to provision
Ensuring they follow the SEND policy

Which SENDs can we provide for at Harper Green School?

Our school currently provides additional and/or different provisions for a range of needs, including:

Communication and Interaction
Cognition and Learning
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties

How do we identify and assess the needs of students with SENDs?

We will assess each student's current skills and levels of attainment on entry and take into account all accompanying information, such as that provided by previous settings. Class teachers will make regular assessments of progress for all students and identify those whose progress:

Is significantly slower than that of their peers starting from the same baseline;
Fails to match or better the child's previous rate of progress;
Fails to close the attainment gap between the child and their peers;
Widens the attainment gap.

This may include progress in areas other than attainment. Slower progress and low attainment will not automatically mean a pupil is recorded as having a SEND.

When deciding whether a special educational provision is required, we will start with the desired outcomes, including the expected progress and attainment and the views and the wishes of the pupil and their parents/carers. We will use this to determine the support needed and whether we can provide it by adapting our core offer or whether something different or additional is required.

How do we consult and involve students and parents/carers?

We will have an early discussion with the student and their parents/carers when identifying whether young people need special educational provision. These conversations will make sure that:

Everyone develops a good understanding of the young person's areas of strength and difficulty;
We take into account any concerns of parents/carers;
Everyone understands the agreed outcomes sought for the child;
Everyone is clear on what the next steps are.

We will formally notify parents/carers when it is decided that a student will receive SEND support.

All parents of students on the SEND register can meet with the SENCo at least once a year through parents' evenings. Formal annual reviews/child-centred reviews are held for all students who have an Education, Health and Care Plan along with termly review meetings; these provide parents/carers with the opportunity to express their views on the young person's progress and provision and ask any questions.

The learning hub encourages regular home/school contact. This contact may take the form of:

Home/school diaries
Target cards
Letters
Emails
Phone contact
Termly review meetings
Transition review meetings

The contact will be primarily through the SENCo, Associate Senior SEND Officer and the Year Teams.

Students are encouraged to attend annual reviews, parent's evening and additional review meetings to discuss their progress and provision with key members of staff and their parents or carers.

Some students with SEND are allocated a key worker. The key worker will meet with students regularly to discuss progress and are available for students to use as the first port of call when required.

How do we assess and review student's progress towards outcomes?

We will follow the graduated approach and the four-part cycle; assess, plan, do and review.

SEND support is implemented and regularly reviewed, outlined below. Parents/carers will be involved at every stage of this process.

Assess: The class/subject teacher and SENCO will analyse a pupil's needs before identifying them as needing SEND support;
Plan: The class/subject teacher and SENCO will agree on the support to be put in place. Parents/carers will also be notified and consulted. The support will usually be set out in a school-based SEND support plan;
Do: The class/subject teacher remains responsible for working with the pupil daily. Students may also receive additional interventions outside the main curriculum, but the focus will be on integrating all pupils and continuing to use high-quality, differentiated teaching;
Review: The class/subject teacher and SENCO will regularly review the support's effectiveness and agree on any needed changes.

The class or subject teacher will work with the SENCO to carry out a clear analysis of the pupil's needs. This will draw on:

The teacher's assessment and experience of the student;
Their previous progress and attainment and behaviour;
Other teachers' assessments, where relevant;
The individual's development in comparison to their peers and national data;
The views and experience of parents;
The student's own views;
Advice from external support services, if relevant.

The assessment will be reviewed regularly.

All teachers and support staff who work with the student will be made aware of their needs, the outcomes sought, the support provided, and any required teaching strategies or approaches. We will regularly review the effectiveness of the support and interventions and their impact on the pupil's progress.

How do we support SEND students as they move between phases and prepare for adulthood?

Transition from primary to secondary for SEND students

We will make contact in the summer term and work with primary schools to share information, which ensures that we are able to best meet the needs of young people from the outset.

For young people with SENDs:

Member/s of Harper Green staff will visit the school and meet the student personally.
We will work closely with primaries to arrange, where appropriate, additional transition visits for the young person to observe the school at different times throughout the day. The young person will also be able to familiarise themselves with the learning support department and meet key staff.
We create a personalised transition package to support transition for young people with SENDs.
Ladywood outreach service also works with the school to support pupils with SEND on transition.

Transition from Key Stage 4 to post-16 opportunities

For young people with SENDs:

Students will be supported with visits to college placements and alternative provisions;
The SENCo will liaise with the CEIAG and Post 16 progression manager in preparation for work experience, college visits and interviews;
The learning hub staff will introduce the person to the Connexions service and will arrange appointment/s with a careers advisor. This process will help the young person with their applications for college or future opportunities.
The learning hub staff will liaise with parents/carers about the transition to a post-16 placement.
We will share information with the school, college, or other setting the young person is moving to. We will come to an agreement with parents/carers and the young person themselves on which information will be shared as part of this transition process.

What is our approach to teaching students with SENDs?

Teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of all the students in their class.

High-quality teaching is our first step in responding to pupils who have a SEND. This will ensure we are catering for the needs of the individual pupils in the classroom.

All staff will be given access to student passports and are expected to utilise these for the young people they teach. These documents detail individual learning needs, and teaching staff will be given appropriate training and resources to enable them to tailor their teaching to enable all learners to make good progress.

Students with additional support will be provided with a Learning Support Mentor who will meet with them weekly to discuss any issues or concerns and to set targets to ensure academic progress and provide extra pastoral support.

Interventions delivered by the inclusion team may include:

Basic numeracy
Basic literacy
Additional maths and/or English
Corrective Reading
Successmaker
IDL Cloud – an ICT based intervention that can also be accessed at home
Teen Talk/Lego Therapy
Social skills work
Behaviour intervention
Anger management
1:1 key worker support
Specific learning difficulties support through dyslexia and dyscalculia programmes
Nurture group
Resilience work
LASS Testing
Working memory support
Boxall Profiling

Please note: The type of intervention or support put into place for any student identified as having additional learning needs will be decided on an individual basis as part of the assess-plan-do-review cycle. The impact of any interventions is evaluated formally to ensure students are making expected progress. Parents/carers and the young person will be involved and informed throughout this process.

How do we adapt the curriculum and learning environment to meet the needs of students with SENDs?

All students at Harper Green School have equal access to a broad and balanced curriculum.

Teachers use a wide range of strategies to meet students' additional needs. Lessons are shaped around "Big Questions" and success criteria and are scaffolded appropriately to ensure that all learners are working towards the highest possible expectations.

The Equality Act 2010 states that education providers must also make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled students aren't discriminated against.

Resources

At Harper Green School, we ensure students have access to the best possible:

practices or procedures,
accessible physical environment,
learners assessment,
extra support and aids (such as specialist teachers or equipment).

Adaptations

We make the following adaptations to ensure all student's needs are met:

Sequencing and scaffolding our curriculum to ensure accessibility and challenge;
Adapting our resources and staffing;
Using recommended aids;
Tailoring our classroom delivery;
Working with outside agencies.

Additional support for learning

We have 16 teaching assistants who are ELKLAN trained to deliver interventions and classroom support.
Learning Support Assistants can support students on a 1:1 basis.
Learning Support Assistants can support students in small groups.
The SENCo meets regularly with all students who require additional support.
The Learning Support department offers a daily mentoring program and a Nurture support group every lunchtime.

Outside agencies

We work with the following agencies to provide support for students with SEND:

Ladywood Outreach Service
CAHMS
Behaviour Support Service
Educational Psychologists•
Hearing and Visual Impaired Service
School Nurse
Connexions Careers advice
Local Colleges and Universities
Parent Partnership

Support for improving emotional and social development

We provide support for students to strengthen their emotional and social development in the following ways:

Students with SEND are encouraged to be part of the school council and contribute to student voice panels;
Each year group has a dedicated Pastoral Coordinator;
Key staff are trained Mental Health First Aiders;
There is a counsellor in school;
The Learning Hub, a smaller space for students to focus on emotional and social development with key staff.

Enabling pupils with SEND to engage in extracurricular activities

All of our extracurricular activities and school visits are available to all our pupils, including our before-and after-school clubs.

All students are encouraged to go on our residential trip(s), and all students are encouraged to participate fully in sports day, school performances, assemblies, and workshops. No student is ever excluded from taking part in these activities because of their SEND or disability.

Where necessary, we will make suitable adjustments to facilitate the full participation of all of our young people. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school.

How do we evaluate the effectiveness of our SEND provision?

We evaluate the effectiveness of provision for students with SEND by:

Reviewing students' individual progress towards their goals each term;
Reviewing the impact of interventions after every half term;
Using student questionnaires and student voice;
Monitoring by the SENCO and Associate Staff manager;
Using provision maps to measure progress;
Classroom observations/learning walks;
Scrutiny of SEN students' work;
Holding annual reviews for students with statements of SEN or EHC plans.

Who do I speak to if I need to make a complaint about SEND provision?

Complaints about SEN provision in our school should be made via the school's complaints policy in the first instance.

The parents of students with disabilities have the right to make disability discrimination claims to the first-tier SEND tribunal if they believe that our school has discriminated against their children. They can make a claim about alleged discrimination regarding:

Exclusions
Provision of education and associated services
Making reasonable adjustments, including the provision of auxiliary aids and services

Contact details of support services for parents of students with SEND

Parent Partnership

To contact Parent Partnership, please call: 01204 848722

Bolton SEND

To contact Bolton SEND, please call: 01204 338984

Contact details for raising a concern

Should you have any concerns about your child in relation to SEND or about the provision they are receiving, please contact the SENCo, Mrs Z Mulvey, directly on 01204 572941 or at mulveyz@harpergreen.net.

The local authority local offer

Our contribution to the local offer can be found here.
Our local authority's local offer is published here.

How is the SEND Policy monitored?

The SEND Policy and information report will be reviewed by the SENCo, SLT and Governing Body every year. It will also be updated if any changes to the information are made during the year, and the governing board will approve it.