Special Educational Needs Report 2019-2020

Background Information

Kingsmead School is a fully inclusive mainstream school located in Hednesford on the edge of Cannock Chase. We offer a variety of provision for students with additional needs to ensure they make progress.

The SEN department is made up of a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), an Assistant SENCo, and a team of eight Teaching Assistants. The department is also supported by a part time Administrative Support Assistant.

All of the Teaching Assistants support our students in cycle three in addition to supporting specific students with statements or EHCP’s across the school.

In school we cater for a variety of SEN students. This includes students with difficulty in literacy and numeracy, social, mental, emotional health and behaviour issues, physical and sensory disabilities, speech and language barriers, weak comprehension, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This highlights the most common needs at Kingsmead but is by no means an exhaustive list.

SEN Identification

All students are assessed on entry to Kingsmead School. Any student that produces results that are a cause for concern will then be looked at on a case by case basis. They may receive further testing to identify a specific condition or a referral may be made to an external specialist to investigate the details of the student further.

If any member of staff or parent raises a concern about a student, further information is gathered and the student will be screened to ensure the right provision is made available. All students are treated as individuals to ensure they get the right support. Staff can report concerns through the electronic Learning Concern referral system.

When students enter Key Stage 4, evidence is gathered in support of exploring the potential for access arrangements. These adaptions are put in place at this point for those students seeking additional support.

In addition to concerns around progress, students are added to the SEN register when:

· They are working with an external agency on something that could hinder school progress

· They have an identified area of weakness from a school test

· They have a diagnosis of need from another professional

Assessing SEN Students

Students are streamed into ability groupings. Those with specific barriers to learning are tested more regularly throughout the year. This is to ensure students are making a suitable amount of progress.

Teaching of Students with SEN

Kingsmead School strives to be inclusive and nurtures the philosophy that every teacher is a teacher of SEN. Staff have received specific and ongoing training to cater for less able students so they are able to access the curriculum as a whole. Training is provided throughout the year and specialist staff teach specific groups. Staff, differentiate their lessons to ensure all students can access the lesson, these students and their strategies are identified on Class Profiles. All students who are identified as SEN create a One Page Profile with key SEN staff. This aids the classroom teacher in understanding the needs of the students, so they can be catered for in a meaningful way, to ensure they make the most amount of progress possible in the classroom.

Additional support is provided for SEN students

Students with SEN receive additional support from:

· Teaching Assistants in the classroom

· By having reduced class size

· Small Group Interventions

· 1:1 interventions and mentoring

· Working with an external specialist

Evaluation and Review of SEN

SEN is reviewed and evaluated through the School Improvement Plan. The SENCo provides reports to the named link governor termly to share the successes and areas of improvement. This information is cascaded to the whole governing body. Kingsmead School also works with the named Entrust Specialist Teacher who supports the school in developing good practice. A yearly audit on SEN is completed. Students are fully involved in their annual review process. A regular SEN student voice captures the opinion of students.

Contact Details of SENCo and Assistant SENCo

Mr D Farrell (SENCo)

d.farrell@kingsmeadschool.net 

Miss N Harding (Assistant SENCo)

n.harding@kingsmeadschool.net

If you wish to speak to either member of staff an appointment can be made through the school office. Alternatively if you wish to speak to a member of the SEN team contact 01543 227320.

Training

The SENCo is completing National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination (SENCo’s). The Assistant SENCo is completing a course to administer Psychometric testing for Access Arrangements in school. Both courses are at master’s level. Specific training for all support staff is calendared in twilight sessions throughout the school year, totalling 10 hours.

Representation of SEN Students and Parents

 Students are consulted on a regular basis and have an equal representation in focus groups and as part of student voice activities. Annual reviews and meetings with SEN parents happen regularly and are well attended. Key workers communicate with parents and update parents as necessary, depending upon the progress and needs of the student. SEN student voice happens on a regular basis and the SENCo / Assistant SENCo are committed to improving the representation of SEN students in student leadership roles.

Complaints relating to SEN provision

In the first instance if a parent is unhappy with the provision provided, they should contact the school SENCo. If the complaint cannot be resolved or the parent is unhappy with the resolution the parent should follow the school compliments, concerns and complaints procedure by clicking here.

Transition

The Assistant SENCo arranges transition of all students identified with SEN. All of the students will be offered a specific programme of additional support that is implemented on a case by case basis. With those students moving into key stage four they will be offered additional support in school and each student will be able to seek advice and guidance from their key worker in school. Kingsmead School supports its students that are moving into further education, employment or training. This is done in collaboration with the Assistant SENCo and the Student Support Worker: Information, Advice and Guidance to ensure all of the students from Kingsmead School can reach their full potential.

Additional transition support may include:

· Extra visits to Kingsmead School

· One to one support

· Specific SEN primary liaison activities

· SEN information for students and parents

· Holiday School / Saturday School work

· Additional visits to local colleges

· Survey of information when students’ progress onto post 16 courses.

Working with external agencies

Kingsmead School work with a variety of external agencies they include:

Information of the Local Authority

Please see the link to Staffordshire County Council’s ‘Local Offer’.

http://www.staffordshirecares.info/pages/my-disability/children-additional-needs/send-reforms/Local-offer/local-offer.aspx 

Reasonable adjustments

Students that have specific needs have reasonable adjustments made for them in a variety of ways in school. This can range from having work copied onto a different coloured piece of paper to the re-timetabling of a class so a student doesn’t have to climb the stairs.

Further information can be found in the school’s accessibility plan.

http://www.kingsmeadschool.net/sites/kingsmeadschool.net/files/Accessibility%20Plan%202014%20cb.pdf

http://www.kingsmeadschool.net/sites/kingsmeadschool.net/files/Accessibility%20Plan%20Actions%202014%20cb.pdf

Extra Curricular

Students regardless of need or ability are encouraged to take part in activities outside the classroom. Examples of this are:

· Supporting families with the cost of the visit

· Attending Saturday school

· Providing additional staffing to support activities

· Pre teaching / practicing elements of visits

· Peer support during activities

· PE, Music and Drama

· Period 6 lessons for English and Maths (KS4)

Pastoral Care

KS3 Hub  upstairs by the staff room

KS4 Hub in B07

SEN office B13

All reported incidents of bullying are taken seriously and actioned swiftly.

Looked after children

The designated teacher for LAC is Mr D Farrell (SENCo)

d.farrell@kingsmeadschool.net

All students have regular Personal Education Plans held in school. School staff and Social Workers decide on how students Pupil Premium Plus funding will be spent, in order to support the educational outcomes of the young person. This is performed in collaboration with the designated teacher and SENCo.

Admissions

Any parent who has a child with a statement or an EHCP should contact the school SENCo to discuss admission arrangements before they apply to school. This will ensure they can be advised on the correct method of application.

The Local Authority work closely with the school when Kingsmead is named on a plan.

How Kingsmead spends the SEN budget

In 2019-2020 Kingsmead School received SEND funding from Staffordshire County Council totalling £94, 902.71. It is anticipated that the school funding for SEND during the 2019-2020 will be £160, 412 and will be deployed to staff 1-1 support, break and lunchtime supervision in K-Buddies daily, the delivery of various academic and pastoral interventions delivered by the SEND department and the provision of external services such as Educational Psychology assessments.