SEND

At Aldwyn, we provide a broad, balanced and varied curriculum that meets the needs of all children.

We are committed to the principal and practice of inclusion for all. We work to provide an environment and ethos that welcomes the child and rewards their effort and achievement.

The Local Authority Local offer

The local offer is an important resource for parents and families with children and young people aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs. Helping them to understand the range of services and provision available in the local area.

Please follow the link for more details: http://www.tameside.gov.uk/localoffer

Our SENDCo is Mrs Oakes. For any specific questions or comments regarding SEN, Mrs Oakes may be contacted via the school office.

Aldwyn Local Offer

At Aldwyn Primary School we pride ourselves in maintaining an inclusive ethos, which respects the unique individuality and diverse nature of all our pupils.

Many children may need additional support at any time during their school life, and this may be linked to social and emotional difficulties, a physical or medical need, or a variety of different learning needs.

If you wish to discuss any concerns about your child, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher in the first instance.

Mrs. H. Oakes is the designated special educational needs and disability co-ordinator (SENCO).

Our inclusion policy can be found in the policies section of our website

Teaching and Learning at Aldwyn

• Each pupils learning is planned for by the class teacher and is supported by our teaching assistants. In addition, we have a counsellor working in school for one day a week . All staff members, work with all children including those with SEND.
• Work is adapted according to individual need and addresses targets set by teachers and outside agencies as part of our Plan , Do and Review process.
• Pupils requiring additional support in a specific area such as number or reading will be invited to take part in small intervention or booster groups, taking place during the school day.
• Children with SEND are actively enabled to engage in all activities which take place both in and outside of school. This make take the form of promoting independence, adapting activities or purchasing specialist resources.
• Where more specialist knowledge is required, we work with outside agencies to help us assess children’s specific needs and gain advice and support to formulate action plans and targets which can be worked on both at school and home.

Such agencies  include:

-Educational Psychologists

-Speech and language therapy

-visual impaired team

-Hearing impaired team

-Specialist Teacher

-TSOSS – advice for children with social and emotional or language and communication difficulties.

– CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

-School nurse

-Community paediatrician

School staff attend additional training courses related to the different areas of need, in order to provide continued quality support and learning at all times.

• The SENCO works closely with newly qualified members of to support them working with children with additional needs in their class.
• If necessary, we will purchase equipment needed to support learning for your child e.g. desk top writing supports, pencil grips, Speech and language programs.
• For children taking SAT’S tests, reasonable access arrangements will be made for any child needing additional support, in line with the DFE’S assessment and reporting arrangements.

How we support health needs

• We are able to administer medication if it is needed four times a day, and on prescription only.
• Other medication such as insulin, will be discussed and arranged on an individual basis. (Please see the schools medication policy and medical form).
• Where a care plan is needed, we will meet with parents/carers in order to discuss and formulate this.
• In a medical emergency, we will adhere to our policies and procedures and ring 999 if needed.
• We have a number of staff across different roles in school who hold a first aid certificate (including paediatric first aid certificate holders) who are able to administer basic first aid care.

In terms of ongoing medical care and support, the school works closely with:

• Health Visitors
• Portage Service
• School Nurses
• GPs
• Community Paediatricians
• Diabetic Nurse
• Medical safeguarding Officers
• Occupational Therapists
• Physiotherapists

How we communicate with parents and carers

• We have an excellent working relationship with parents and carers and are always available at the classroom door for chat or to make an appointment.
• Wherever possible, the child’s next teacher will be invited to Person Centred Review meetings that take place in the Summer term (for children with SEN support or an Educational and Health Care Plan).
• Prospective pupil visits to school are welcome and are bookable with the Head Teacher.
• You will be able to discuss your child’s progress at parent’s evenings in the Autumn term. Any concern regarding additional needs can be discussed with your child’s class teacher, or the SENCO, Mrs Oakes.
• When a child has a special educational need or disability parents/carers are invited into school initially to set up person Centred Review meeting. These will take place termly in order to review actions and progress. These meetings are in addition to the school parent/carer meetings and form a process of plan, Do and Review.
• Wherever appropriate SEND children will have opportunity to input into their review meetings. This will be through speaking to an adult prior to the meeting who will put forward their views on their behalf or the child is invited to attend either part or all of the meeting.
• The review meetings are a time to share assessments of your child and review their progress towards targets set at previous reviews.
• Parents/carers will have the opportunity to contribute their observations and views to the review.
• Professionals from outside of school may attend review meetings to talk through their assessments and evaluate your child’s progress towards the targets they have been set.
• Review meetings are always recorded during the meeting, so that everyone attending can see what has been discussed and written. These are then distributed to all attending .
• All children with SEND will have a 1 page profile available to any staff members working with that child. Older children may have input into their own profile, and it will help new staff to know how they can best support your child.

If a parent/carer of a child with SEND has a problem or a complaint about provision for their child we will do our very best to listen to concerns and amend our practice if appropriate. We also direct our parent/carers to

Tameside Service Information Service SEND Support Services (SENDIASS)

• If we cannot solve a problem together we direct parents/carers to our School Complaints Policy.

Moving from Aldwyn to High School

• We have excellent links with the local high schools, and visits from high school staff are made to Aldwyn in order to discuss and meet the needs of all our pupils during this important time. Year six teachers and the SENCo will also pass on information to high schools through the sixes into sevens online platform.
• Review meetings will always take place in the Autumn term of year six for children with an EHC Plan, in order to plan for a successful move to an appropriate high school.
• Where a child has an EHC or a Pupil Support Plan, then we will invite high school staff to attend transition meetings.
• Where a child has any additional needs then this will be made known to the SENCO of the high school that your child will be attending. Year six teachers and the SENCo will also pass on information to high schools through the sixes into sevens online platform.
• All relevant information will be shared in line with our data protection policy.

What extra activities do we offer at Aldwyn?

• We run a breakfast club from 8a.m., and an after school club until 5.30p.m.This is an extension of our caring and inclusive school, and we make every effort to ensure that wherever possible children with additional needs are able to attend.
• We offer a wide range of lunchtime and after school clubs, including Choir, Multi Sports, Lego Club, Knitting and Spanish. Some clubs are payable, and others are provided free of charge.
• We run Junior Play Leader mediator programmes which train older children to be play leaders during lunchtimes. This ensures that no child is left out or without friendship at these times.
• Our sports coach runs activities on the Key Stage Two playground during lunch play time.

Should you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to contact school for an appointment.

Helen Oakes, Special Educational Needs Coordinator